JOSEPH Murphy recorded a double at the inaugural Eventing Ireland one-day at Clonmahon House last Saturday on horses owned by Sarah Hughes who he was competing in public for the first time and who had previously been campaigned by Cathal Daniels.

The first of the pair to strike was the Anglo European Studbook-registered Barrichello who completed on his winning dressage score (29.3 penalties) in the nine-runner Veterinary Specialists Ireland EI115 Open.

Steven Smith was a second over the time across the country to fill the runner-up slot on Newferry Jagermeister (31.8) while Patrick Whelan, who was first out on this new track, also finished on his Dermot Cannon-awarded dressage score with Denis Finch Hatton (32.5) for third. Smith had been lying second on Galwaybay Echo (29.6) who, surprisingly, had two refusals across the country at combination fences and two fences down show jumping.

Murphy’s double came up in the eight-strong EI110 Open where he recorded the only double clear inside the time on the Irish Sport Horse mare Shannondale Mari (23.5), a 10-year-old daughter of Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan. Her nearest rival at the close of play was the Daniel Anderson-partnered Blarney Monbeg Pepper whose total of 32.1 included 5.6 show jumping penalties.

This eight-year-old Dignified van’t Zorgvliet mare was having her first start since last season’s world championships for young event horses at Le Lion d’Angers where she was ridden by Sian Coleman.

“The two winners arrived over about eight weeks ago from France where Astier Nicolas had them through the winter,” revealed Murphy. “The young horse (Hughes’ six-year-old Shannondale Connor who was withdrawn after show jumping in the EI110) had been jumping with Tommy Considine down in Clare. I’m delighted to have had this good start with the two winners who are getting back into the game after a break. I’ve no real plans for them other than to get to know them better but we could go to Burgam.”

Murphy added: “It’s was great to see a new, top event in North Leinster. Everything was built and laid out to an efficient high standard. It’s in the right location and can only go from strength to strength. On behalf of the riders, I’d like to say how appreciative we are to the McNally family.”

Briody victory

There were just six starters in The Underwriting Exchange EI115 where the final leaderboard was headed by Nessa Briody and her ISH gelding Tullibards Right Now whose total of 46.6 included 12 cross-country time penalties. Heidi Hamilton retired the dressage winner, The Sequel (32.7) at fence nine, the Knight Frank drop to skinny.

This was a first EI win since the Hoofprints Innovations national championships in early September 2018 for Briody whose partner that day, Tom Boy, who she also rode at two Junior and two Young Rider European championships, sadly died over the winter.

The owner/rider’s lack of success could be put down to the scarcity of her appearances in recent years as she dealt with an injury to her hand. Now a boxing coach and personal trainer at the Headon Boxing Academy and living in Brosna on the Kildare/Offaly border, she gets to ride five days a week while her employers are happy to tailor their weekend schedule to hers on the equestrian front.

Tullibards Right Now, a 10-year-old bay by Moshaajir was bred by Hans Kuehnle out of the Ricardo Z mare Tullibards Most Wanted. He is due to have his next start in the CCI3*-S at Kilguilkey.

“Oh my God what a fantastic event!” exclaimed Briody. “It just couldn’t be faulted in any way and was really like a British event.”