THE Smith Brothers Eventing Team, who have a large number of horses to compete, had more reason than most to thank the extended Turley and O’Connor families for pulling out all the stops to run Tullymurry 3 last Saturday as they won three of the four unrestricted classes.

Steven Smith initiated the yard’s treble when landing the three-runner EI110 (Open) on his Janet Hall-awarded dressage score with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Newferry Jagermeister (20.5 penalties). For good measure, the Gilford rider also finished second with Tullaher Paudie who, on his first start in open company at this level, had a fence down show jumping for a total of 28.5.

Owned and bred by Caryn and Herbie Walker, Newferry Jagermeister is a 12-year-old grey roan by Lougherne Cashel out of the OBOS Quality 004 mare ISHD Coole Red.

Smith completed a personal double when winning the EI110 with Symone Brown’s Premier Lara (25.8 penalties) who completed on the dressage score he was awarded by Lucinda Webb Graham. The only other double clears in the 11-runner class were recorded by the second and third-placed combinations of Jonny Steele and Kinetic Blue (28.8) and Darragh Hanlon with Omaybe (32.5).

Having picked up 12 show jumping penalties, Smith withdrew The Kings Ransom who had led after dressage on 24.3. With a clear over the coloured poles, Michael Ryan was then left in front on Diamant de Heraldik (24.5) but the Co Cork raider withdrew MiMi Falb’s Westfalian stallion before cross-country.

Great work

“Great work by the team at Tullymurry to pull off another event as it was needed for horses to get a run and qualifications. Our season has been really hampered by the weather,” said Smith who, when interviewed by commentator Raymond Bready, reminded less experienced riders that they need to walk the entire track, and not just the fences, before going cross-country if they want to make the time as well as jumping clear.

Casey Webb and Nelgara Lucy Locket, winners of the EI100 at Tullymurry 3, pictured winning the EI100 at Hazeldene \ Anne Hughes

Dressage score completion

Casey Webb brought up the yard’s treble when claiming the 24-strong EI100 on her joint-winning dressage score with the ISH mare Nelgara Lucy Locket (27.5 penalties).

Here, Steven Smith had to settle for second on Herbie Walker’s seven-year-old Kannan gelding Newferry Aga Khan (28.8), who was having his fourth start under Eventing Ireland rules, while Katie McKee placed third with her 10-year-old Je t’Aime Flamenco gelding Summit (30). On their second start at this level, Sarah Sproule and Ballyneety Cavalier Imp (30.3) also completed on their flat work score in fourth.

Clare Abbott shared the lead following the Coreen Abernethy-judged dressage phase on MT Luxaan (27.5) but although that Cazaan mare show jumped clear on her EI debut, Abbott decided to withdraw the bay who had finished fifth in the five-year-old Horse Sport Ireland Studbook series grand final at Tattersalls July Show.

Owned and bred by Co Cork’s Sean Moher, Nelgara Lucy Locket is a seven-year-old by the US thoroughbred Diamond Discovery out of the Diane Harron Eakin-bred Ringfort Rara Ruby (CIC3*) whose previous produce include the Luidam gelding Ringfort Rua (CCI3*-S). This weekend, the Smith Brothers Eventing Team is competing at Blair Castle in Scotland where Steven rides Newferry Jagermeister (CCI4*-S) plus Handsome Starr and Tullaher Paudie (CCI2*-L) while Webb competes Cecil Bready (CCI3*-L) and Nelgara Lucy Locket (CCI1*-S).