ON a day that belonged to the professionals, Cork’s Michael Ryan emerged on top of a competitive field in the EI110 at Ballindenisk on Sunday.

Riding the traditionally-bred The Diplomat, Ryan impressed on the flat to score 29.3, and capitalised to record one of just four double clear rounds. A former ride of Ryan’s wife Trish, the nine-year-old son of Nazar has taken time, as Michael explained.

“He’s come out much stronger this year,” said the Bandon-based Olympian. “Trish thinks a lot of him, so we’ve given him the time. Ideally, we are hoping to clock up enough points to move up to three-star, but he will tell us when he’s ready.”

An admirer of Nazar, who was also the sire of Ryan’s four-star stalwart The Caped Crusader, The Diplomat was bred by Frances Hatton, and is out of the thoroughbred dam Slyguff Way.

Looking forward to the year ahead, both Ryans have a good quota of horses to campaign, but with trading being the main objective. “We’ll pick and choose our events, and do plenty of unaffiliated events as well. It keeps the expenses down and good to get unrecorded mileage with the babies,” he said.

Little influence

While the jumping phases had little influence on the results, the show jumping did juggle the lower order slightly. Rosie Alcorn slipped from second to fifth with Goodwins Whoopi, but kept a clean sheet to complete on his dressage score of 30.5. Patrick Whelan moved into second with Carrie Meehan’s MBF Corbeagh, a seven-year-old by Quidam Junior. An RDS finalist as a five-year-old and runner-up in last year’s national championships, he pipped British native Sarah Gould aboard Cornish Cadenza.

Heading into a busy season with both youngsters and international horses on the go, Robbie Kearns landed the top spot in the EI100 with Richard Ames’ smart mare Belline Castle Ziggy. Sourced from breeder Noel Ruane as a three-year-old, last year’s DAFM five-year-old champion completed on her dressage mark of 29.8 and continues to impress.

Robbie Kearns and Belline Castle Ziggy, winners of the EI100 at Ballindenisk ODE \ Justin Black Horse Sport Images

“She moves, she’s careful and is ready to step up to 1.10m now,” said Kearns, who aside from embarking on a full Stepping Stones Series this spring, will also travel to the Burnham Market international in early April.

Co Wexford-based young rider Georgina Pettit posted a rewarding second spot with her mother’s home-bred BCL Belletastic, from Sadbh Bolger, who was also double clear with the useful Grantstown Imperial.