BRITISH international rider John Tilley made an impact when competing at his first Eventing Ireland National Championships at Kilguilkey House last weekend as he won the NutriScience EI115 (Open) title with the Dutch Warmblood gelding, Licence To Cooley.

The Balou du Rouet nine-year-old was a bit off the pace following dressage but, unlike those ahead of him, the black gelding completed on the score (35.2 penalties) he was awarded by Joan Ahern and Marie Hennessy. Not usually one to pick up cross-country time penalties, but incurring four on this occasion, Wexford’s Patrick Whelan finished second with Hans Juergen Kuehnle’s Oldenburg mare Joyce L (36.1).

In a mix of breeds, Waterford-based British international Daniel Alderson placed third with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Islandwood Quality Control, whose total of 36.7 included 5.2 time penalties on the final leg, while his Co Laois-based compatriot, Daisy Trayford, finished fourth on the US thoroughbred mare Ermintrude who was two seconds over the time on Sunday for a completion score of 37.2.

Licence To Cooley began his eventing career at the Sheanes’ Cooley Farm from where, in 2021, he recorded two EI110 wins under Katie O’Sullivan, seeing out that season with two second-place finishes at EI115 level. Last year, Licence to Cooley was campaigned in Britain by Wills Oakden but, following the death of his owner, Ella McGregor, he was transferred over to Tilley and partner Andrew Williams at Fernhill and now runs under their Kilkenny International Sporthorses’ banner.

“Licence To Cooley is under probate and will be for sale,” said Williams. “We would much like to form a syndicate to buy him to keep him in this country for John to ride. This was their third 115 win and they also finished fifth (of 28) in the CCI3*-S here at Kilguilkey in July. I was a bit concerned about the ground when we arrived here but they did a great amount of work on it and John said it rode really well and that the track was tough but in the right way.”