THE second of four scheduled Eventing Ireland fixtures took place at Frankfort Stud near Gorey last weekend. Much to the appreciation of the riders, Will Kearney and his team had put in considerable effort to prepare the ground, and as a result received a good quota of entries.

Bathed in sunshine throughout the day, the venue hosted 14 classes, which included the inaugural staging of three of the recently announced unrecorded ‘training’ divisions. These classes are being trialled during this month and next, and running at EI 100 (T), EI 90 (T) and EI 80 (T) levels will enable riders with young horses, or indeed anyone considering taking up the sport, to experience the affiliated competition, without any mishaps recorded.

The results of these sectors will be published - along with the remainder - online over the weekend, but will be removed the following Monday.

EI110 classes

Organising duties aside, Will Kearney was responsible for the show jumping tracks, which delivered a notable influence throughout. Clear rounds were well earned, and notable for their rarity in the opening EI 110 open sector which was won from the front by Emma Egan riding Ballytoher Sabrina.

The former Irish open pony club champions and indeed recent Millstreet two-star victors, impressed flat work judge Jill Spring to earn a mark of 28.8, which despite the addition of eight penalties in the show jumping was still good enough to hold the advantage.

In fact, only one of the four runners managed to leave the coloured poles intact so, with the order changing after every phase, second spot fell to Steven Smith aboard the ultra-consistent thoroughbred Handsome Star.

With 33 going to post, the restricted division was far more competitive. Just one combination achieved the hugely influential time allowed in the country, while the show jumping again proved a challenging phase.

However, neither troubled Patrick Byrne and Newmarket Belline Delight who, although carrying 2.8 time penalties, moved up from an opening fifth place to narrowly pip dressage leader Fraser Duffy with Liscarrow Sinatra.

The win concluded a good week for the Kilmore Quay-based duo who, a few days earlier had picked up their RDS Young Event Horse ticket at Tullylish. Only a five-year-old, the winning gelding is owned and bred by Richard Ames, with the ride passing to Byrne last year. “He’s a big horse and has needed time,” commented Byrne of the son of Newmarket Venture. “With that in mind, we have produced him slowly, but he seems to have everything needed to make it to the top. The next priority will be the RDS, so we’re not going to run him too much before then.”

In second spot, Duffy was just a tad slower in the country, while chasing all the way, Sarah Ennis filled third with Stellor Deelite.