THE Western Region of Eventing Ireland held last Sunday’s penultimate qualifying round of their 2025 Berts Properties Starter Series at Clare Equestrian where Marie Burke was so encouraging as commentator and judge for the jumping phase.

Her job was made that bit easier by the day’s efficient call-up steward Ann Hanniffy who kept everything running smoothly, getting through 93 starters in one ring. In wonderful weather, Philip Scott judged the four-year-olds, plus the thoroughbreds and ponies, while Denise Norton assessed those forward in the other two age classes and the open division.

In bringing up a double, Craughwell’s Tim MacDonagh won the Drumhowan Stud six and seven-year-old class for the third time this season, doing so on the already-qualified Irish Sport Horse gelding Heritage Halo (56 points).

This 2019 Halifax van het Kluizebos bay, who has 17 Showjumping Ireland points to his credit, was bred in Co Tipperary by Heritage Bloodstock out of Wonder Why (by Centro), dam previously of the Arko III mare Arcadia LVS Z (CSI4*) among others. Sinead Burke claimed the first qualifying ticket when finishing second on the home-bred CES Casson (52.5), a chesnut seven-year-old by Ringwood Cassero.

MacDonagh initiated his brace in the Derryronane Stud five-year-old class on the previously-qualified Belgian Warmblood stallion Unisono BS (54). This chesnut son of Tobago Z is one of the many foals produced by the Lord Z mare Iliana van Klapscheut, a full-sister to the 1.60m performer Korianovan Klapscheut.

Jason Doerflinger finished second with the already-qualified Milchem Gemstone (53.5), Ralph Conroy’s home-bred ISH gelding by Ganesh Hero Z. Tommy Considine secured a ticket here when placing third on Shannondale Zeus (53), a Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan bay.

Willing partner

Following a relatively poor entry at Tubberbride, the numbers competing in the age qualifiers bounced back up last Sunday when, for the third time in the series, Doerflinger won the Sligo Candy Boy four-year-old class. His willing partner on this occasion was Ralph Conroy’s previously-qualified Milchem Monty (59), a home-bred gelded son of the ISH stallion Milchem Good Luck.

Conan McCann finished second in this well-filled class with his first-round winner, the ISH gelding Hyndland Quality Diamond (58) who is by Lagans OBOS Quality.

Oisin McDonagh also struck for the third time this season in the Milchem Equestrian ponies’ class, here on Rose Dempsey’s previously-qualified home-bred ISH gelding Mr Draco (50), a five-year-old by Greenvale Draco out of the Robin Hood mare Robin Star.

The ever-busy regional PRO Hannah Gordon finished second here with her father Matt’s Connemara gelding Blackfort Major Melody (47), a five-year-old grey by I Love You Melody.

Tim MacDonagh and Heritage Halo won the six/seven-year-old class at the Western Region Starter Series held at Clare Equestrian \ Rynes Walker

Similarly, a previously-qualified combination, Susan McDonald and the Connemara mare Theresa’s Delight, topped the scores in the Gerry Daniels Timber Harvesting and Callatra Stables open class. Thomasina O’Reilly’s five-year-old Royal Atlantic Star grey is out of the Janus mare Janno Sky Lady (56.5).

Hannah Gordon slotted into second here with her Milchem winner Hans (51.5), a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood pony stallion by Kojak. Lara Field claimed the first qualifying ticket here with her mother Marjorie Hardiman’s home-bred Connemara mare Creganna Kerfuffle (54), a 10-year-old grey by Silver Shadow.

Thoroughbreds

Most disappointingly, there were just two starters in Sunday’s Treo Eile-sponsored thoroughbred class, both of whom qualified.

Here, Katelyn Young narrowly claimed the honours on her dressage score with Alex D (55.5) who made four appearances under Eventing Ireland rules last year, seeing the season out when placing ninth of 20 in the EI90 (Amateur) championship at Kilguilkey House in September. The British-bred seven-year-old Oasis Dream gelding won a seven-furlong two-year-old maiden at Limerick in 2020 when trained by Ger Lyons.

Edel Whyte had a fence down show jumping with the six-year-old Arctic Cosmos gelding Dontbegonelong (54.5) who she has competed in Riding Club activities as a member of Mosstown. Emily Murphy, who won the Milchem and Tubberbride legs with Lilly Bobtail, gave that Harzand mare the day off on Sunday as, on Saturday, the five-year-old won the EI90 (T) class at Tyrella 2.

The last qualifier in the Berts Properties Starter Series is taking place tomorrow in Claremorris Equestrian with the final scheduled for Easter Monday, April 21st at Milchem Equestrian.