THE Northern Region of Eventing Ireland has had its schedule of fixtures for 2025 in place for some months now and, as usual, eased members and others back into eventing mode with its annual Two-Phase fixture last weekend, but with two full days of competition instead of one.

“The initial day (Saturday, March 8th) sold out in four days and, within an hour, there were over 70 on my waitlist,” said regional organiser, Dora Beacom. “With the agreement of the Corbett family, the NR committee decided to run on Sunday as well and this proved a very popular decision.”

One would think that Dora had enough to do, with so many runners over the two days but, through social media, she kept everyone up to date with maps of the courses and details of the fences in advance, travel news and the weather conditions on the day, the numbers left to run cross-country towards the end of each class, while also managing to post an early morning photograph of Tyrella beach.

Regional cross-country course designer Adam Stevenson produced three encouraging tracks (1m, 85/90cm and 75/80cm), which were well-dressed by Vina Buller and Sharon and Nikky Cullen, for six classes on both days, while The Meadows’ Aaron McCusker built two identical show jumping courses, one for Saturday and a second one for Sunday.

As after all regional one-day events, and each of the Baileys Horse Feeds Flexi Eventing days, Dora thanked the many officials and volunteers on duty at Tyrella, without whom the sport of eventing could not survive. The number of horses and ponies entered gives testament to the high regard in which the Corbett family’s wonderful seaside venue is held by owners and riders.

Unsurprisingly, the Region’s first EI event of the season at Tyrella on Saturday next, March 22nd, sold out in double quick time and another wait list was started. Entries for Tyrella 2 on Saturday, April 5th, open on Monday next, March 17th, when four-leaf clovers may be more in demand that shamrock!

Suzanne Hagan and Charlie won a 1m section at Tyrella's Two Phase event \ Anne Hughes

On the ‘Wray’ up

Nichola Wray saw out her 2024 Eventing Ireland campaign, when claiming the EI110 (Amateur) title at the national championships at Kilguilkey House last September on Dylan aka Springhill Showman and, given what we have seen of the pair so far this season, they are bang on form for the months ahead.

Wray and her nine-year-old Lislap Benedict gelding recorded one win in the dressage phase of the Baileys Horse Feeds Flexi Eventing series and last Saturday proved their jumping skills were just as sharp, with a double clear in the first 1m class at the Northern Region’s Two-Phase fixture at Tyrella. Wray stopped the cross-country clock on 4m 32secs, the optimum time for those competing at the EI Novice speed of 520mpm.

“This year, I hope to complete a few more internationals, as well as continuing as an amateur at EI110 level,” Wray replied, when asked of her plans for 2025. “I would like to go back to Millstreet at the end of May to do the 2* short and Lisgarvan international also to do the 2* short. If the opportunity arises for us at the right time, maybe we will go for an EI115 class. Hopefully, our dressage will have improved sufficiently this year to get under the 30-penalty score!”

Six combinations recorded double clears in the second 1m class (Pre-Novice speed), with the best of these being Suzanne Hagan on Charlie.

Huge numbers

There were 50 starters in the Senior 85/90cm competition, of whom seven recorded zero scores. Closest to the optimum time here was Craig Hills with High Hopes Tuxita, the nine-year-old Maximillian Voltucky mare he competes at EI90 level.

Just two of the 24 starters in the Junior 85/90cm class finished fault-free, with the honours going to Tilley Tumilty and her new ride for this season, the Irish Sport Horse gelding Rock Impulse (Yogi). The Pointillistte seven-year-old was previously campaigned at EI100 level by Ellen Douglas. Tilley and her mother Lisa were back at Tyrella on Sunday to judge a fence.

Jonathan West narrowly missed hitting the optimum time in the Senior 75/80cm class, but his double clear was closer to it than others. West was, of course, on board the ISH gelding, Monmurry Soverign, who he first started competing under EI rules in April 2021. The 2002 Accondy grey was bred by the Enniskillen College of Agriculture, which under the banner of CAFRE also bred a winner on the racecourse on Tuesday when the Doyen gelding Bond Broker was on the mark at Sedgefield.

Twelve-year-old Ana Goodrich had a day to remember when filling the top two spots in the 21-runner Junior 75/80cm class. Her winner was the Irish Sport Pony Broadleas Chase, a 10-year-old Moores Clover gelding, on whom she will be making her EI debut this year, while she finished second on the 18-year-old Tony’s Tommy, who her younger brother Alec will compete in Pony Club company.