KILLYLEAGH’s Joseph Murphy had to settle for fourth in the EI115 (Open) on Belline Fighting Spirit, but totally dominated the 10-runner EI110 (Open) where, with three double clears inside the time, he completed a one-two-three on Choclat (24 penalties), My Foxhall Kit (24.8) and Dstud Flirtation (25), who filled the top three spots throughout.

Co Cork’s Sian Coleman also finished on her dressage score to place fourth with Ballyvonare Rascal (30.3) in a 10-runner class, where there were three eliminations, including one for a slip-up on the flat before fence 11. Two riders were unseated, one at the second element of fence eight, the three-part water, and one at the second element of fence 12, the Irish bank.

Murphy’s three horses all hold engagements in the CCI3*-S at Lisgarvan next week. It was great to see Choclat win on his first Eventing Ireland start since being withdrawn after dressage from the CCIO4*-S at Millstreet last season. The 13-year-old Hannoverian gelding by Contendro is owned by Annette O’Callaghan, Richard Ames and Alan Bell.

Fell at the first

There was a lot of grief in the 18-runner EI110. The Sarah Ennis-ridden pair of Dolmen Stellor Design (20) and Nycarlos H (25), who held the top two positions after dressage, both fell at the first element of the three-part water at eight, as did one other combination. One rider was unseated at fence nine, a birch log, while one combination didn’t make it out on to the cross-country course, being automatically eliminated in the show jumping phase.

As Ennis dropped out of contention, 19-year-old Biomedical Science student Rebekeh McKinstry moved up to fill the void on her father Aaron’s Irish Sport Horse gelding, HVL Jack Pot.

The eight-year-old Lux Z bay had a fence down in the show jumping ring, where he was also two seconds over the time, to record his first Eventing Ireland win on a total of 33.8.

Janie Cairns recorded the only double clear inside the time to finish second with Mark Emerson’s six-year-old ISH gelding Zambia Touch (34.3), while River Lodge Equestrian’s Rafael Sanctuary recorded his best result since returning to eventing this year when, with 3.6 cross-country time penalties, he finished third on the similarly-aged Dutch Warmblood gelding Nasphar (38.9).