FINALLY, and at the second time of asking, eventing at the popular Hillcrest venue in Co Limerick got underway last Sunday. Just two weeks into the delayed campaign, the fixture unsurprisingly attracted its full quota of entries, many of whom had travelled down from Tyrella the previous day.

As organisers, the O’Donnell family had pulled out all the stops to deliver the best of tracks and conditions, but the ground did bear the brunt of heavy rain, which fell the preceding Thursday. “The weather was against us,” said Rodney O’Donnell. “It rained all of Wednesday night and Thursday and we didn’t think we would be able to run. However, the forecast was good, so we were happy to go ahead.”

In the conditions, the big entry definitely tested the logistics, as winning senior rider Steven Smith explained. “The organisers did a great job in running the event and should be commended,” he said. “They worked incredibly hard to provide very fair courses and we are grateful, but at the same time, to have that many runners at the venue was a big ask and put them under a huge amount of pressure.” Smith added that the warm up areas became very congested and, responding, O’Donnell commented: “I think he’s right. The idea was to allow the bigger classes to have their dressage on the sand, but for that number of entries, we probably needed to have all the dressage on the grass, and to use the full sand arena for the warm up. Moving forward, we have decided to restrict numbers to a maximum of 250, so it is not such a long day for volunteers and is more comfortable for riders also.”

That said, riders were very grateful to have a run and, with Millstreet looming and as a result of so many cancellations, riders were also under pressure to accumulate the necessary qualifications to compete there. All classes were competitive, as was the time allowed which, probably due to the holding ground, was tight and especially in the open classes.

Patrick Whelan and Gone West won the EI115 restricted at Hillcrest \ Justin Black, Horse Sport Images

EI115

Having racked up a double at Tyrella the previous day, the indefatigable Steven Smith repeated the feat when heading the open sectors in both the EI115 and EI110 classes. First up, he rode the smart mare Fleur de Lis, who under owner Daniel Brown had represented Ireland in Le Lion d’Angers and successfully competed to four-star level. Still only 12 years old, the daughter of Hold Up Premier is a new ride for Smith who, since Daniel’s retirement from the sport, took up the reins at the start of this year. “The Browns are running the mare to have fun and I’m enjoying riding her,” said Smith. “I’m still getting to know her, she’s a great jumper and from here we are aiming for the three-star short at Millstreet.”

Without a doubt, the pair are fast cementing their partnership, as having led the dressage on 25.9, they stormed ahead after delivering the only double clear within the time. As the scores reveal, the cross-country element proved straightforward, but both the time and the show jumping were influential. As a result, the winning pair drew 10 marks clear of second placed Ted O’Leary with last year’s junior team partner Master Swatch.

Despite tipping a coloured pole, O’Leary retained his initial second placing, while having delivered one of just three show jumping clears, Sarah Dowley and Bonmahon Liberation made up big ground to fill third.

EI115 restricted

Last year, Patrick Whelan and Steven Smith battled it out for the leading rider honours and, as the season progresses, it is likely that the same scenario might occur again. Both have large strings of horses and, in the EI115 restricted, it was Whelan who came out on top aboard Mary Rose Cooney’s home-bred nine-year-old Gone West, a gelding by West Coast Cavalier out of the thoroughbred mare Timor Tigress by Seamanship.

In a class of many twists and turns, Whelan had opened in third place on 33.2, and had forged ahead after producing the sole cross-country clear within the time. Once again however, clear rounds over the show jumps were rare and, despite lowering two fences, Whelan still managed to complete almost five marks in front of James O’Haire aboard new ride Oldrock Cloe, who tipped three. As one of only two clear rounds, but slower in the country, Ellen Creed and Interface filled third, from dressage leaders Nicky Roncoroni riding the seven-year-old level debutante Rockalong.

Speaking of the winner, Whelan commented: “He’s a very big horse, who has taken time and hopefully will be one with a bright future. The time was tight, but apart from a loop at the start that slows you down, it was a galloping track. Gone West is very good to ride across the country, he keeps moving forward the whole way.”

Chloe Fagan and Gervada won the EI 105 class at Hillcrest \ Justin Black, Horse Sport Images

EI110 (0)

Steven Smith’s next winner came in the EI110 (O), in which he partnered the O’Shea family’s very useful seven-year-old Tullaher Paudie. The winner of the HSI six-year-old stud book series at the National Championships last year, the son of Shannondale Sarco completed on his opening score of 32.00, having produced one of only three double clears within the time.

Bought as a three-year-old, he has come though the age classes with Smith and will hopefully head to Le Lion d’Angers at the end of the year. The Gilford rider was also foot-perfect with Paul and Ann Bowe’s second placed The Kings Ransome, as was Patrick Byrne riding Belline Newmarket Delight in third.

Better known in show jumping circles and having not evented since 2008, the EI110 winner Darryl Walker has made the most successful of returns to the circuit. A former and regular campaigner, both under rules and in the young horse series, the Co Wicklow man was responsible for the early eventing career of youngsters, such as Paula Cullen’s Badminton winner Paulank Brockagh and appears to have lost none of his skill. He certainly enjoyed his win on the 11-year-old show jumper MHS Talisman, who headed a strong open class of 37 runners.

Opening in fourth, the pair had impressed on the flat (29.8) and following the jumping phases added nothing further. “He loves it and I should have evented him a long time ago,” said Walker. “We went for the time, and I tried to shave the corners and ride the lines. I did push him a bit, but he has a massive stride.” A grade B jumper with 1.40m grand prix form, MHS Talisman is by Cardento (dam by Quidam Junior) and hails from the famous Kells bloodlines.

Chasing all the way, and also double clear, John Tilley slotted into second with the former Oliver Townend ride and Irish eventing first-timer King Edward Of Barrells. Caitie Slater who is enjoying a great run of form with the six-year-old Belline Imperial Diamond, filled third from dressage leaders Cathal Daniels and the French-bred Cosmic de la Griotte who, slower in the country slipped to fourth.

Round up

Having competed in Tyrella two days earlier, Chloe Fagan and Gervada took their seasonal tally to two wins from three runs, when they claimed the EI105 from the front. With just three clear rounds from 14 runners, the show jumping again proved the bogey and, while Fagan lowered two, their final score of 35.0 was still ahead of second placed Eimer Darcy and Riding Shotgun (38.7). The latter pairing also picked up four penalties over the coloured poles, as did Daniel Alderson aboard Hurricane Fly B in third. The cross-country was also influential, accounting notably for Georgina Pettit, who having led the first two phases, picked up a costly 20 penalties with her 2023 junior winner BCL Bellistic.

Alderson made amends later in the day, when he filled three of the top four placings in the EI100. Completing on his dressage score, Alderson rode Gina Heaps’ six-year-old Future Trend-sired Carrowgar Future into pole position on 23.8, and claimed second aboard Emma O’Shea’s similarly aged Baby I’m A Star. Breaking the domination and clustering closely, Robbie Kearns took third spot with Belline Thistle Bethelasttime, from Alderson again, this time riding Annestown Empress.

Having both won earlier classes, Patrick Whelan and Darryl Walker were in the mix again in the EI90. Marginally quicker in the country, Whelan took the honours with Sharon Power’s Grantstown Dun and Dusted, turning the tables on Walker with Arles.