WHILE Storm Eunice caused many equestrian fixtures throughout the country to be cancelled last Saturday, the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland was able to stage the sixth leg of the Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series at The Meadows.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 continued to have its effect on the number of entries, while there were some withdrawals on the day as competitors were unable to get to the Lurgan equestrian centre because of snowfalls in their own locality. This was the penultimate round of the series, the last of which takes place today with the prize-giving being held during a non-qualifying day of competition next Saturday.

Today’s leg also features the fifth of seven rounds of the Horse Sport Ireland affiliates combined training league where the first two in each of the four classes qualify for the final at CoilÓg on Sunday, March 13th.

Series winners in 2018 and 2020, Denis Currie and Arodstown Aramis head into today’s finale in pole position on 67.5 points. Currie and his 17-year-old Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding regained their spot at the top of the leaderboard thanks to their wins in both Lucinda Webb-Graham-judged Intermediate (78.7%) and Novice (76.3) dressage classes, their double clear in the 1.10m show jumping section and their clear in the 1m cross-country phase.

They now have a two-and-a-half-point margin over last week’s leaders, Nikki Cullen and Gemstone Ruby (65), with Sophie Cowan lying third on Tempo Quickstep (62) ahead of Claire Ireland with Goin For Gold (58).

Four other combinations breached the 70% barrier in Saturday’s 10-runner Novice class with Currie’s nearest rival being Randalstown’s Rachael Thompson riding Lisa Rosbotham’s Govalent. Bred by Lisa’s father Woods Rosbotham, this seven-year-old Valent gelding is a full-brother to Clare Abbott’s European championship ride Jewelent and to the mare Cooley Rosalent who Britain’s Oliver Townend has competed at the last two renewals of the world young event horse championships in Le Lion d’Angers.

Just fractionally behind in third was north coast veterinary surgeon Rosie Alcorn with her similarly aged home-bred Jaguar Mail gelding, Chrysanthos (74), on whom she won twice at EI100 level last season when they also finished inside the top six twice in EI110 company. The combination rounded off their 2021 campaign by filling the reserve slot in the prestigious Michael Leonard championships for five- and six-year-olds at the Ballindenisk international in September.

Currie only faced two rivals in the Intermediate class, Helen Faulkner proving much the better of the pair when achieving a score of 71.6 with her own Connemara gelding Derrivane Danny, a 14-year-old grey by Glenayre Silver Fox.

Consistent

Seventeen combinations came before Webb-Graham in Saturday’s Pre-Novice class with six of these achieving over 70%.

The highest score (76.8) was recorded by the very consistent pairing of Elaine O’Connor and Helen Fletcher’s 13-year-old Cyrano gelding Sir Barnabus who were clear over the 1m cross-country course. This was a fourth victory in the series for the Tullymurry duo with the bay having also won under O’Connor’s husband David when Elaine was out of action with a dislocated shoulder.

Banbridge’s Michael McGaffin finished second with his show hunter/event horse Greenhall Rock N Roll (75), a traditionally bred seven-year-old bay gelding by Greenhall, while 13-year-old Dungannon competitor Connie Cullen put it up to her elders when scoring 73.3 to finish third on the 15-year-old bay gelding Finding Nemo.

Penny Sangster judged the 27 combinations forward in the day’s sole Intro class, awarding her top score of 72% to Belfast’s Clodagh McBride and the 14-year-old roan Apache Chief mare Barnfield Indian Sky who, having been well-placed on their previous outings in this year’s series, deserved this success.

Sixteen-year-old McBride is studying for her GCSEs but still has time to work with Sky’s owners, Stan and Cindy Cunningham, who are well-known for their collection of appaloosa horses and ponies, most of whom are home-bred. Clodagh and Barnfield Indian Sky had one outing under Eventing Ireland rules last season, finishing fourth in an EI90 class at Knockany in September.

Shane McKeever, who has been an avid supporter of the Baileys Horse Feeds Flexi Eventing Series since its inception in 2015, was exactly two points adrift of the winner on his traditionally bred KHS Impact, a 17-year-old bay gelding by Master Imp. Going into today’s final round, they lie in joint fifth place on the overall leaderboard with McBride and Sky on 56 points.