“FAIR play to the team at Hazeldene Farm as they’ve really dug the Northern Region out of a hole this season,” said Sarah Sproule, winner of the EI110 at Andrew and Laura Napier’s Ballynahinch equestrian centre last Saturday on her own Ballyneety Cavalier Imp.

“Andrew had made enough adjustments to the cross-county course since the last day to make it interesting but, what’s different about Hazeldene Farm is that it’s always hard to make the time here. You really want a neat, nimble horse and that’s just what my mare is.”

Sproule and Ballyneety Cavalier Imp led after dressage (31.5) in the eight-runner class but the owner/rider thought her chance of victory had gone when the six-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare picked up eight show jumping penalties. Usually, that would be the case but not a single clear was recorded over Aaron McCusker’s track to give Sproule renewed hope before cross-country.

“I knew I could make the time so I set out to do just that,” said Sproule whose completion score of 39.5 left her well clear of Steven Smith on Newferry Aga Khan. That eight-year-old’s total of 50.3 included a pole down show jumping, 5.6 time penalties on the second phase and 6.4 across the country.

This was a third success for Ballyneety Cavalier Imp who struck first time out, in an EI90 here at Hazeldene in May 2023 and followed that up with a second victory at that level on her next start in July that year.

The bay had only seven other EI runs prior to last Saturday as Sproule’s job working at Warren Ewing’s busy point-to-point yard, Bernice Stables in Templepatrick, keeps her very busy, especially at weekends during the pointing season.

Even last Saturday, she was at work first while her mother Amanda started getting things ready at home. “I rode my first horse out at 5.30am and left Warren’s two hours later to come here. It was an early start but worth it! I actually have two pointers of my own at Warren’s, which, hopefully will do the business and be sold. I like this mare a lot – she’s very slick – and I really should hang on to her but it would be a bit of a waste.

“I really should have her down at the national championships at the weekend but I just don’t have the time for that. Hopefully Vesey Lodge (the last Northern Region event of the season on September 14th) will go ahead and I’ll ride her there but she is on the market,” concluded Sproule.

Smooth day

As ever, the extended Napier family was on hand to ensure the smooth running of this nitronica-supported event and, on a beautiful sunny day, there was a great atmosphere at Hazeldene Farm especially around the first water complex. As the event drew to a close, the focus of attention centred on the area around the Secretary’s office when the now customary weekly draw for volunteers was held.

Personally sponsored by EI110 (Amateur) rider Kim Constable, the draw each week is for £200, £50 and a bottle of wine. Last Saturday’s winners of the top prize and the bottle of wine were fence judges Catherine Crawford and Pauline McAlister respectively while the £50 was won by commentator Paul Nolan.

The last-named promptly donated his prize to the Raymond Bready/Adrienne Stuart skydive appeal on behalf of Air Ambulance NI which takes place today.