THE first leg of the 2025 Berts Properties Starter Series, run by the Western Region of Eventing Ireland, was held at the O’Brien family’s Galway Equestrian last Sunday.

This was just days after confirmation had been received that the series would again be supported by Horse Sport Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, through the 2025 breeding grant initiative. With additional support from Treo Eile, the Traditional Irish Horse Association and local businesses, the total prize-fund on offer will be over €20,000.

Previous graduates of this series include Hannah Gordon’s Hans gelding Nokio, who was fourth in the 148cm 1.20m class here at Galway Equestrian last Saturday; Shannondale Connor, who is competing at 2* level with Alexander Bragg in Britain where, at present, Co Galway’s Godfrey Gibbons is based with Kilnamac Kasu, a winner here two years ago, who is now competing at 3* level.

“We had a great day with good entries and it was nice to see some new faces competing,” said Kilnamac Kasu’s owner, and regional secretary, Marie Dunne, who was delighted to welcome back Neil and Melanie Wynn of Ardeo Sport Horses as judges. “The course, which was really well decorated, comprised eight show jumping fences and then on to the cross-country. Thankfully, it was a beautiful day, if a bit cold, and there were lots of spectators, which was great to see. Well done to Galway Equestrian for preparing the venue after hosting the Spring Tour the previous day.”

Winning debut

Clarenbridge owner/rider/producer Conan McCann made his first appearance in the series a winning one, when landing the Sligo Candy Boy four-year-old qualifier on his dressage score (58 marks) with his own Irish Sport Horse gelding Hyndland Quality Diamond, a son of Lagans OBOS Quality, who he purchased from Michael and Damien O’Neill as a two-year-old.

“My younger sister Hazel did the series before on her dun pony, but I never had anything suitable,” said 24-year-old McCann, who has just finished studying Food and Agribusiness Management at UCD. “I was delighted with the win and am looking forward to going again. I’ve a second four-year-old that I’d like to get qualified as well.

Hyndland Quality Diamond was bred in Co Longford by Seamus Farrell out of the traditionally-bred Glidawn Diamond mare Ruby Lady, who was out of a mare by Naheez.

The other qualifiers from this class were Jason Doerflinger with the ISH gelding Jessies Golden Boy (57), an Acorad 3 chesnut who narrowly lost out on the top spot when dropping four marks in the jumping phase; Neva McNamara who finished third with Berta (56) and Tommy Considine riding Rooney M (51).

The day’s turn-out prize, sponsored by Sea Warrior Sea Supplements, was awarded in this class to Co Clare’s Grainne Davoren and her home-bred traditional ISH mare GDS Little Lioness (Hollypark Diamond – Coolahand Lioness, by Let The Lion Roar).

Five-year-olds

The Jason Doerflinger-ridden pair of HSF Milchem and Milchem Gemstone, who filled the top two placings in the EI90 final of the Western Region’s combined training league, finished first (55 marks) and second (53) in Sunday’s Derryronane Stud five-year-old qualifier. Ralph Conroy’s winning ISH mare by HSF Canturo Lui was bred in Co Galway by Owen Horan out of the Cardento mare HSF Coco Royale.

Tommy Considine, a regular competitor in this series, finished third with the ISH gelding Enniscrone Rollars Pride (49). By the popular Vivant van de Heffinck, the bay was bred in Co Mayo by Padraig McGuinness out of the High Roller mare Cavalier Classic and is thus a half-brother to the Ricardo Z gelding Hare Chaser (CCI3*-L) and to the Mermus R gelding A Classic Sportsfield (CCI3*-L). Tim MacDonagh qualified in fourth with the Horan-bred ISH filly HSF Cha Cha Cha (48), a bay daughter of HSF Canturo.