BRITISH international event rider Daniel Alderson has just one young horse in his Co Waterford yard, Urlanmore Vivant Cruise, and that Irish Sport Horse mare made a winning debut when landing the Childeric Saddles four-year-old class at Wednesday’s second leg of the Stepping Stones to Success league at Wexford Equestrian.

Once again, just dressage scores and jumping penalties counted for the results and Alderson completed on his Gillian Kyle-awarded flat work mark (61.5 points) with the Pat Carey-bred Vivant van de Heffinck mare who is out of Urlanmore Cruise, by Lux Z.

“I got her in January and this was her first ever show,” said Alderson of the winner. “She will finish off the Stepping Stones league then have a break before being aimed at the Dublin young event horse qualifiers. She belongs to Oliver Steele and his daughter Alana-Rose who also own my 4* horse, Islandwood Quality Control.”

Canada’s Chanelle Martin finished second on Hans Kuehnle’s home-bred ISH gelding Tullibards Mighty Boy who had a fence down show jumping for a total of 59. This bay son of Mighty Magic is out of the Kiltealy Spring mare MJM Enya. Ellen Treacy, who won the day’s event pony class, here slotted into third with the ISH gelding Enniskerry Echo (58), a Sligo Candy Boy bay who completed on his dressage score.

John Tilley and Ballinagore Fortune won the five-year-old class at the second leg of the 2025 Stepping Stones league \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-media

Five-year-olds

John Tilley didn’t manage to follow up his first round double on Wednesday but did win the Childeric Saddles five-year-old class with the ISH gelding Ballinagore Fortune when completing on his dressage score of 64.5.

Bred in Co Tipperary by Patrick McDonnell, the bay son of Imnotafraid Fortuna, is out of the Castlecomer Q mare Ballinagore Blossom. Purchased at the 2023 September sale at Goresbridge by owners Kilkenny International and Carol Gee, he will finish off the Stepping Stones league and may take in the Young Eventhorse Series qualifiers before embarking on his eventing career.

Sarah Ennis also finished on her dressage scores with the second and third-placed Lady Sky M (62) and Stellor Endeavour (61).

The ISH mare Lady Sky M, who amassed 20 Showjumping Ireland points last year under Emma Jackson, is owned by Stevie Macken whose mother Susanne bred the Cinsey bay out of her Je t’Aime Flamenco mare Emily M. The ISH gelding Stellor Endeavour, a bay son of Colandro, was bred by the rider’s husband Nicky Potterton out of the Master Imp mare Millfield Mistress.