A SNOW-covered site greeted the competitors at Gurteen College for the Combined Training League, supported by Glanbia Gain Feed, last Sunday morning. All hands sprung into action to harrow the arena and clear the snow from the show jumps.

First to go in the 80cms restricted class, Tony Ennis’s Ballyduff Sean by Rosscon (by Templebready Fear Bui x Satara by Monaghanstown Fionn), bred by Sean Dooley, had a good look at some of the fences, dropped a pole to return four penalties going into dressage and, in spite of getting a better mark, left the door open for Alison Packman (Murdoc) with a clear over the coloured poles and a two-penalty lead, to claim the class.

In the 80cms class, the dressage marks were much closer with just 6.5 penalties separating the first five competitors, leaving little room to manoeuvre in the show jumping phase. The Derrymore Lad gelding Brisogue Second Chance delivered the win for Dermot Brislane with Fergal Nesbitt’s OBOS Free, a four-year-old filly by OBOS Quality, slotting into second place. Carly Q finished on her dressage score of 34.8% which landed Rosemary Nesbitt third place. Fourth was Vicky Manual (Fabienne); fifth went to Meabh Clancy (Kildromin) and Katie Gibbons (Paulank Pumpkin).

Caoimhe Conroy (Masonbrook Dessie) won the EI 90 from Fergal Nesbitt’s Isle of Inisfree in second and Emily Salmon’s Lynx in third.

The EI 100 went to Lorraine Kennedy (Major Furisto), in second was Elizabeth Sterling (Attrory Nika) and Godfrey Gibbons (Twilight Thunder) was third.

Winner of the CNC1* was Olivia Swan (Rocon Pedro) from Caitlin Tighe’s Stocktons Wing in second and Harry Swan’s Rouay Turgeo in third.