LUCCA Stubington recorded a mixed level dressage double on identical scores at The Meadows last Saturday as the fourth leg of the Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series took place in cold, wet and windy conditions at the McCusker family’s Lurgan equestrian centre.

Will McAuley judged Section B of the Pre-Novice where, had Stubington not been present, Caoimhe Crozier would have been a narrow winner of the 19-runner class with her mother Christine’s seven-year-old Masurenfuerst gelding Hill Monarch (67.5%). However, Stubington’s performance on the Irish Sport Horse mare Zeevagh Green so impressed McAuley that, on his first day’s duty at the series this year, he awarded the combination an impressive percentage score of 75.5.

Zeevagh Green, a seven-year-old grey by S Creevagh Ferro, is owned by the winning rider’s mother and grandmother, Georgia Stubington and Patricia MacKean, and was bred by them out of Ethos (by Last News). That 2004 mare did some show jumping and eventing herself, before retiring to the breeding shed, and is a half-sister to the Cajetano mare Kiltoom (CSI5*). This is the family of Juniper Green on whom Georgia won three Junior medals.

Lucca initiated her double in Section C of the Intro where she again posted the only score over 70% on the ex-racehorse Kessler (75.5) who was recording back-to-back victories. As mentioned last week, this well-bred seven-year-old Flemensfirth gelding ran in two bumpers for the Crawford brothers in 2020.

Lucinda Webb-Graham awarded her second highest score of 69.5 to Jonny Mulligan riding the four-year-old Dignified van’t Zorgvliet gelding Bubblegum. It was good to see Mulligan taking part in the dressage section as he had a very busy day with 10 horses to compete between the two jumping phases.

Bubblegum, who recorded a double clear in the 1m show jumping division, will now be aimed at young event horse classes.

Fourth success

Two winners from week three filled the top two placings in Section A of the Pre-Novice dressage which was judged by Coreen Abernethy. The honours in this 15-strong class went to Tullymurry’s Elaine O’Connor on Sir Barnabus (74.8) while 11-year-old Kitty Cullen finished second with Jane Hancock’s Coppenagh Spring Sparrow (74).

This was a fourth straight success for Sir Barnabus, Helen Fletcher’s 13-year-old Cyrano gelding who, in week two, was partnered by O’Connor’s husband David.

Last Saturday, Elaine and Sir Barnabus also competed in the 10-runner Novice dressage but here they had to settle for fourth (70.3), immediately behind the above-mentioned David and Glenvine Codename R (aka Esme) who also breached the 70% barrier in third on 70.8.

Webb-Graham’s winner of this 10-runner class was Conor Savage riding Ben and Sue Stevenson’s Elpaso Rising Storm (72). This 10-year-old chesnut gelding, who has plenty of eventing experience to his credit, is by the Oldenburg stallion Floriscount out of Ballybannon Lass, a daughter of the Irish Draught stallion Jack Of Diamonds.

Lucy McDowell finished second with Lisnahall Miss Toffee (71.5), the 17-year-old Song Of Freedom mare on whom she made her Eventing Ireland debut last season.

Only four combinations came before Webb-Graham in Saturday’s Intermediate class where she awarded her top score to Junior competitor Tom Rowlatt-McCormick on his new ride for this season, Skyfall Echo (72.1).

This combination is gelling well as they have now won twice and finished second in three starts. Another eye-catching horse, Rickamore Notion, finished second on 71.2 under Charlotte de Montmorency who was riding the nine-year-old Gevaudan gelding for her mother Caroline.

Change of leaderboard

While some competitors missed Saturday’s fourth leg of the series because of Covid-related issues, Denis Currie, a regular in both higher graded classes, did so as he had to attend an Eventing Ireland stewards’ seminar in Punchestown.

This meant Currie lost his hold at the top of the Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing leaderboard, slipping down the rankings to fifth with his 27-year-old Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding Arodstown Aramis (37.5). Heading into today, the lead is now held by Nikki Cullen with Gemstone Ruby (45) followed by Sophie Cowan on Tempo Quickstep (44). There is currently a tie for third on 41 points between Claire Ireland on Goin For Gold and Caoimhe Crozier with Hill Monarch.

Cullen and her 10-year-old Rineen Clover mare recorded double clears in both the 90cms show jumping and cross-country phases last Saturday having started the day with a fifth-place finish in Section B of the Intro class judged by Will McAuley.

Here the winner on 65.5% was Jonathan West with Monmurry Soverign, on whom he made his return to Eventing Ireland action last season following a nine-year absence. The 20-year-old grey Accondy gelding is traditionally bred being out of the Western Light mare Loughry Prelude

Monmurry Soverign, who was bred by the Enniskillen College of Agriculture, was the perfect choice for a comeback ride as he has recorded performances with the FEI (completed the CCI1*-Intro at Ballindenisk in 2020 under India’s Pradyumna Prashant Dhumal), with the Association of Irish Riding Clubs (has competed under their show jumping rules) as well as with EI.

Michael McGaffin and the ex-racehorse Ballela In Milan maintained their good form to place second on 65, maintaining their lead in the race for the Treo Eile-sponsored award for the highest-placed thoroughbred at the conclusion of the series.

Sophie Cowan and her 10-year-old Lougherne Quick Step mare Tempo Quickstep moved up into second place on the league leaderboard thanks to their win on Saturday in Section D of the Intro class. Lucinda Webb-Graham had Cowan and her ISH grey on a very impressive score of 76% with their nearest rivals, Karina McVeigh and Coco, on 70.3.

Winners tied

In the Coreen Abernethy-judged Section A, there was a tie for first on 69.8 between Claire Ireland on her 14-year-old palomino gelding Goin For Gold and Shane McKeever with KHS Impact, while Rachael Burns was close up in third with Cavalier Carry On Cruising (69.3).

Now in joint-sixth place in the overall league on 37 points, the 17-year-old Master Imp gelding KHS Impact is the highest-placed traditionally bred horse and is thus in line for the TIHA sash.

All those who put in long hours officiating and volunteering at the Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series, which is run in partnership between the venue and the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland, will be hoping that the good weather returns for today’s fifth round at The Meadows and for the remaining legs which are due to take place each Saturday until March 5th.