THE fourth and final round of the combined training league hosted by the Western Region of Eventing Ireland at the Milchem Equestrian Centre of chairman Ralph Conroy was held last Sunday when competitors had to contend with a strong wind – but at least it was dry.

Dressage judge for the day was Co Kildare’s John Lyttle (List 2) who assessed some really nice tests and was impressed by the quality of the young horses who came before him. He was also impressed by one young rider as, in the EI90cms class, Lyttle awarded 13-year-old Oisin McDonagh his only sub 30-penalty score for his performance with Conroy’s Milchem My Lady (29.75).

Recording one of only three clear show jumping rounds in the 15-runner class, McDonagh and the six-year-old mare not only won quite comfortably on the day but also claimed the section’s league honours on a total of 15 points having topped the leaderboard in two previous rounds. The combination competed in all four legs of the league and finished second on the one day they didn’t win.

Filling the runner-up position on Sunday was Amy Clarke who was also clear over the coloured poles with the five-year-old dun gelding Lisnagry Champ (36.25 penalties).

With a fence down show jumping, Lara Field had to settle for third on her mother Marjorie Hardiman’s home-bred Irish Sport Horse mare Creganna Milady (37.25).

Four show jumping penalties also proved costly for Louise Kennedy and the Connemara gelding Fred (38) who placed fourth.

In the league, Field and Creganna Milady, a six-year-old Koro d’Or bay out of the Tulira Robuck mare Prospect Suzy, finished second on nine points (helped by their win on February 12th) while Kennedy was third on seven points with Fred. Registered as Nevins Pucán, Fred is a five-year-old son of Drumbad Fletcher Moss out of the Nevins Ranger mare Nevins Belle.

Interesting family

Unfortunately, there is no recorded breeding for Milchem My Lady but Conroy tells us that she is by Contra A out of a 13hh mare who has bred a number of top jumping ponies. The dam in turn was out of a 12.2hh mare who competed at the Dublin Horse Show under Vinnie Duffy.

“Oisin is a very good young rider who loves eventing and hunting,” commented Conroy.

“He did the Region’s Starter Stakes Series on the mare last spring, finishing fourth in the final. They then had three starts at EI90 (P) level with Eventing Ireland, finishing third and second before winning at Punchestown in August. They also won the 90cms section of the Horse Sport Ireland eventing autumn development series round held here last October.”

McDonagh, who is from Ballymacward and also plays hurling and football, spends his holidays and weekends at Milchem where he gets great help and support from the centre’s Jason Doerflinger, another rider highly-regarded by Conroy.

“I’ve done plenty of show jumping since I was five or six but I really think this combined training series has improved my riding a lot,” McDonagh told the Irish Horse World.

“I really have to thank Ralph (Conroy) as he has given me great chances both on this mare and in show jumping. He has been a huge help to me and I love working with him at Milchem.

“He was very good to let me start eventing proper on this mare last year. We had a pole down the first day when were were third at Hillcrest (in June) but then went double clear to finish second at Crecora and then win up in Punchestown which was fantastic. Hopefully, we will do more Eventing Ireland competitions during the summer but first we are going to do the Region’s Starter Series again.

“I would also like to thank Marie Dunne (regional secretary). Although my parents, Martin and Cheryl, are happy to bring me over to Milchem on competition days, they are not that keen on hanging around once I jump so Marie always brings me home!

“My sister Sorcha also rides but she just does show jumping.”

Dunne paid tribute to the day’s scorers, Marie Ward and Ruth Waldron, show jumping judge Caroline Conroy, call-up steward Ann Hanniffy and also to dressage scribe Alex Kenny who filled that role throughout the league.