RUNNING with possibly the largest quota of entries seen this season, the popular venue at Grove played host to a well-organised event last weekend. With the enterprising Rosemary Ponsonby at the helm, the organising committee ran 15 classes, the majority of which were creditably sponsored by a loyal band of supporters.

Much to the appreciation of the riders, (and indeed the horses), every effort had been made to alleviate the hard ground. The tracks, both in the country and the show jumping arenas, had been spiked and, with rain overnight and on the day easing the situation further, riders were happy to allow their horses to gallop.

Out on track, the innovative courses were, as usual, designed by Paul and Allen Brady, while the numerous new fences had been built by Graham Bell (Equipark). Pat Walshe, meanwhile, was in charge of the show jumping tracks which proved influential throughout the day.

EI 115 classes

With just nine runners, the entry for the Waterford Stanley Cookers EI 115 (O) was one of the less supported classes, but it was well contested nevertheless. Despite a tight time allowed, which none achieved, the competition was tight and led to a pillar-to-post win for the northern region pairing of Clare Abbott and Mr Mighty. Having impressed Joan Ahern on the flat (23.6), the duo recorded the fastest time across the country to head the slightly slower Louise Bloomer (Shannondale Icarus), as well as Clodie Coen (Union Fortunas). The show jumping caught out a few, but the top four all completed on their first phase score, while just one faulted in the country. Bred and part owned by Cormac MacKay, owners of Abbott’s Olympian Euro Prince, the promising Mr Mighty has an unusual pedigree. He is out of an unregistered dam by MacKay’s own stallion Gatcombe (by Gatsby) whose dam is by Condios.

Having picked up an unfortunate cross-country penalty in the previous class, Joseph Murphy made amends to win the Coolmore-supported restricted division with the aptly named Belline Fighting Spirit. Owned by the Kindred Spirits syndicate, which consists of Richard Ames, Annette O’Callaghan and Alan Bell, the KWPN registered seven-year-old stormed around the country to record the sole clear within the time.

This feat promoted him from an opening fifth place, and led Ames to comment: “He is a very, very exciting horse. We bought him as a three-year-old. Laura Birley initially produced him for us here at Belline and Joseph took the ride over this season with the view of travelling to Le Lion d’Angers in the autumn.”

While the time in the country was influential, so was Pat Walshe’s show jumping test. The combination of the two accounted for the chances of dressage leaders Alex Houston and Atlantic Rockstar who slipped to fourth, but benefitted Jonathan Steele who moved into second with R Kid, from the recently selected young rider squad members Sadbh Bolger and Cooley Cappucino.

EI 110 classes

Taking a well-deserved break from his event organising responsibilities, Rodney O’Donnell landed a good win in the Fernhill Sport Horses EI110 (O) aboard his own Dartans Hillcrest. Once again, this victory came by virtue of delivering the sole clear within the time, and was further eased by the decision of dressage leader Stephanie Stammschroer (Master Swatch) not to chase the clock. The added time penalties left the latter in second spot, from Davina Gray and Hacklim Moxie.

With 39 runners, the Knight Frank EI 110 was by far the biggest class of the day and therefore extremely well won by Lindsay Graham with Moystown St Ghyvan. The Co Laois rider was competitive from the start, and as one of just three to hold their first phase score intact, they narrowly pipped Sarah Ennis, who expensively tipped a rail with Stellor Deelite, as well as Fraser Duffy who did the same with third-placed Fernhill Muse.

Graham, who successfully combines eventing with her show jumping, and runs Shanbeg Sport Horses from her home in Rosenallis, has produced this son of Shannondale Sarco (dam by Cavalier Royale) since a three-year-old. He was bred by Whiterock Farm, and owned by Robert Fisk he is also a very capable show jumper. “He is good enough to be a jumper, but both Robert and I love the eventing, so he was always intended to be an event horse,” explained Graham, “He has been quite tricky, and then unfortunately missed a year because of a fractured splint bone. He now feels like a machine, and because he’s big – and never going to be sold, we are in no rush with him.” In a happy coincidence, Moystown St Ghyvan was reunited with his full brother Lord Ghyvan, who was also initially produced by Graham, and later in the day headed the EI 100 (B) with Katherine Bennett.

As it should be, the cross-country was testing. Ten were clear within the time allowed, while six combinations picked up penalties and one walked home.