STAGING their second fixture in just two weeks, the hard-working team at Rosanna were back in action to host another very successful event last Saturday.

Sandwiched between Millstreet and Clyda meant that the entries had dipped a little from week one, but there was still a healthy turnout and those that attended were rewarded by both very good ground conditions and changes to the Sally Corscadden-designed tracks.

Landowner John Wilding especially, had done a lot of work topping and sanding the ground, while Corscadden had introduced a number of different and ultimately influential features.

EI110 (O)

As has been the trend all year, the professional riders dominated the proceedings, and one who is enjoying a particularly good run is Co Meath producer Nicola Ennis. Landing back-to-back wins with her consistent thoroughbred Dawn Arrival, Ennis led the seven runners from the front and, maintaining her opening score of 25.3, was never headed.

“He’s really flying and feels so much stronger this year,” she said of the recent Lisgarvan victor. “He’s super happy at two-star level, and I think could be a real medal winner in the junior ranks. He’s my own and should be sold, as sadly, you can’t run them all.”

The only other runner to keep his dressage score intact was Patrick Whelan, who pulled up to second with Edel Nolan’s smart home-bred Denis Finch Hatton. The son of Ghareeb was poised in the mid-division on the flat, but clear and fast in both jumping phases, and completed ahead of Sarah O’Shea aboard the veteran 22-year-old Youngstars Cheetah.

The latter pairing picked up a fraction of a penalty in the show jumping, but look to be nicely established in only their third run at the level.

All bar one, enjoyed a clear spin across Sally Corscaden’s altered track, and riders were very appreciative of the going.