FOR the sheer delight in qualifying for the Eventing Ireland national championships and for competing at Kilguilkey House in the company of friends and family, it would have been hard to beat Amy Salmon who was then absolutely thrilled to win the Childeric Saddles Ireland EI90 (Amateur) title on Clonaslee Captain Hawk Wing.

Traditionally-bred in Co Mayo by Michael Egan, the winning five-year-old is by the Irish Draught stallion Inisfree The Holy Grail out of the unraced Hawk Wing mare Open Wing, a half-sister to five winners from the family of Sweetness Herself.

The top five on the final leaderboard of this 20-runner class all completed on their first phase scores. Salmon and Clonaslee Captain Hawk Wing led throughout on 24.9 penalties with Nora O’Donovan finishing second on Muckross Shadow (25.8) while Katie McKee slotted into third on Water Paint (27.1).

Not all who did well on the flat finished in the top half of the field and most disappointingly for Kate Tyner, who had been on 29.3 after dressage but picked up four show jumping penalties, her cross-country round again ended early as she parted company from Frankies Queen at the first fence. One other combination was eliminated on the final leg while just two others picked up jumping penalties.

“I wasn’t long back from having a baby (daughter Aoife who’s now a year and a half old) when I started looking for a new horse. I heard that David O’Connor had a four-year-old in to get started at Tullymurry and I went to see this fellow last November.

"I fell in love with him from the start as, although he’s 17 hands or so, he was a total gentleman.

“I’d never owned or brought on a young horse before but I’ve had great help from David’s wife Elaine and would often just hack out with her if not getting lessons from her – she’s very inspirational. Elaine also competed at Kilguilkey (finished third in the non-restricted EI90 on the very consistent Tullymurry Masha) as did my husband Dean (in the EI100 (Amateur)).

“We’re both doctors in the A&E Department in the Ulster Hospital and have to fit our riding around our shifts. The horses are now on a break but I already miss competing and can’t wait for Tyrella next spring!”