LAST weekend, the Furnell family hosted both affiliated eventing and show jumping at their Ballycahane Equestrian Centre in Crecora.

While the wind caused some issues with the coloured poles during Sunday’s leg of the Munster Showjumping spring tour, conditions were ideal for eventing on Saturday – particularly after rain, during the day on Wednesday, and even heavier falls that night, had left the going perfect.

This was the first of two Eventing Ireland one-days scheduled for the Co Limerick venue this year while the Furnells will also be welcoming riders competing in SJI competitions, Pony Club, Riding Club, Irish Pony Society shows and unaffiliated activities.

“As we have the facilities, we may as well use them,” said Gerald Furnell, designer, with his son Dominic, of the cross-country tracks.

“I would like to stress how grateful we are to all our volunteers. You need 50 at least for an event and, invariably, you keep going back to the same people – that is unless they have already anticipated the call and have been in touch themselves.”

James O’Haire was delighted with the performances of the four horses he partnered on Saturday but particularly that of Patricia Heffernan’s HFS Eclipse who, on her second start of the season, landed the EI115 (Open) on her dressage score (24.6). The 10-year-old grey mare by Womanizer was bred in Co Wexford by M.J. Kavanagh out of Aldatus Clover Gold (by Aldatus Z).

“She’ll do the three-star-long at Ballindenisk and, hopefully, after another couple of runs at that level, she’ll go four-star towards the end of the season as I believe she’s ready to move up; Blenheim might be a target for her,” revealed the Hawthorn Farm Sporthorses’ rider. “The tracks here today were lovely and inviting especially for the two of mine (Jamaica Rose and Kiltubrid Danny) who were having their first 110 runs.”

Darragh Byrne also recorded a double clear within the time when finishing third in that 11-runner EI115 (Open) with Kilcannon Ramiro (25.9) but 2.8 cross-country time penalties proved costly for the dressage winners, Piltown’s Alison Holden and O My Balladeer who had to settle for second on 24.9.

Veterinary surgeon Holden received compensation in the 28-strong EI110 where, again leading after dressage, she held on to score with her husband Eamon’s Lates Eddie in spite of being a second over the time in the show jumping phase for a total of 21.2. Narrowly beaten into second on their first phase score were Meabh Bolger and the six-year-old MBF Back To Back (21.3), who were having their third start in as many weeks, with Rebecca Coonan finishing third on the eight-year-old Master Quality Imp (23.3).

The ISH gelding Lates Eddie, who also won at this level at Kilguilkey (3) last August, is a nine-year-old by the Holstein stallion My O My. He was bred in Co Kilkenny by Eddie Moloney out of the Swedish-bred Little Star (by Lucky Mickmooch).

Patricia Ryan continued her successful return from injury by recording back-to-back EI110 (Open) victories on Carol and Tom Henry’s ISH gelding The Caped Crusader. The nine-year-old chesnut son of Nazar, who was bred by Barbara and Frances Hatton out of Iriss Gift (by Highland King), completed on his joint-winning dressage score (24.5) ahead of the Patrick Whelan-ridden Altitu (24.8).

Meath’s Sarah Ennis, who was fourth in the EI115 (Open) on her Olympic Games mount, Woodcourt Garrison, landed the 29-runner EI100 when completing on her flat work mark with her Irish Sport Horse, Stellor Deelite (28) who was making his seasonal debut.

The remainder of those in the final top 12 likewise finished on their first phase score but the leading combination following dressage, Chloe Fagan and Fortmill Farco Island, had two fences down show jumping for a total of 35.

“As this fellow is one of our own, he has, up to now, only had a run when I’ve had the space and time for him but he’s turning six and needs to be doing a bit more,” said Ennis who, this weekend, is competing four horses at Burnham Market in England.

“He’s about 15.3hh but doesn’t ride like a small horse and is a very good jumper. I’d like to sell him as I want to keep the number in work to 12.”

Stellor Deelite, who is by Holstein stallion Caricello, was bred by Ennis’s husband, Niki Potterton, out of the talented but fragile Dee Mac who won up to EI115 level under her sister Nicola. The Cruising Harry mare had a colt last year by Orestus.

Joint-second after dressage, on 29.3 penalties, with Kate Solon and the 12-year-old Oakport Ringo Star, Ratoath veterinary surgeon Robbie Collins was left in front when his rival had a pole down show jumping to win the EI90 with his unraced thoroughbred gelding, Dunrath Archibald.

This was a second start under Eventing Ireland rules for the Chinook Eclipse bay who was bred by Michael Lynch. He is the sole thoroughbred foal out of point-to-point winner Lady Bernedett (by Beneficial) who also bred three ISH foals, all by OBOS Quality 004. The five-year-old had finished second on his debut at Tyrella (1) last month.