THE restricted sector was the most competitive class of the day, and with just two combinations from the opening 22 runners completing on their dressage scores, it was a rewarding one to win. Both the show jumping and the time allowed in the country were decisive, and when the maths was done, the top spot fell to Fraser Duffy aboard Carol Gee’s Eventing Ireland newcomer Lolita do Cahim.

Sitting handily in fourth spot on the flat, the Portuguese-bred eight-year-old increased her advantage after every phase, eventually leading Stephanie Stammschroer (Brownstown Theodore) by nearly five marks. A former show jumper under Duarte Seabra, the winning mare was then passed to his brother Bernado, and latterly to Arthur Duffort in England, before finding her way to Ireland earlier this summer. “I was thrilled with her. I had only given her one cross-country school, but she was so good and absolutely on it,” enthused Duffy. “I didn’t need to take a pull anywhere she is so easy. She’s a lovely mare who could go on to do either job, and would also be suitable for a good young rider.”

Performance

It was good to see Stephanie Stammschroer back on the circuit after her travels, and she will have been equally pleased with the second-placed performance of Brownstown Theodore. Only a six-year-old, the son of OBOS Quality galloped home on his dressage score (33.0), to head flat work leaders Patrick Whelan aboard Julie Radden’s Ideal Spirit. The latter pairing lost their advantage in the show jumping, while others in with a shout picked up time penalties in the country. Will Kearney’s track was not entirely straightforward, as five combinations incurred isolated errors with three of these occurring at the tricky downhill skinny brush combination at the fourth.