“THE sun was shining and there was a lovely atmosphere, which resulted in happy people and happy horses,” commented Ralph Conroy, chairman of the Western Region of Eventing Ireland and host of this year’s combined training league, which got underway at his MilcheM Equestrian Centre last Sunday.

Becky Scott, who is based at MilcheM along with partner Duncan McFadyen (See Pony Tales, p92), landed two of the day’s five classes on her dressage scores awarded by Petra Hewer.

The Scottish native initiated her double in the EI90, where she led from the outset, with the only sub-30 penalty score, on RDM Ring Of Mercury (27.8). Also on their first phase marks, Carol Spain finished second with Martini On The House (34), while Jack Burke slotted into third with Flowerhill Blue (35.3). Only three of the 11 starters erred in the show jumping phase.

Scott also recorded a clear-cut win in the EI100 where, again with the only sub-30 penalty dressage score, she claimed the honours on Athea Clover Dew (25.3), ahead of Godfrey Gibbons riding Kasu (30.8) and Leagh Daniels on Blackmoor Crest (32.8).

RDM Ring Of Mercury, a 2019 gelding by Calvaro van de Rechri, was bred in Co Longford by Michael Kelly out of Gold Goose (by Callanagh Gold). “Last spring, he won the four-year-old final of the Western Region’s Sealac Starter Series,” commented Scott. “He finished the season winning an EI90 at Crecora (on his second EI start). We’ve hunted him a couple of days over this winter and are hoping to produce him up through the eventing levels this season unless he finds a new home!”

Athea Clover Dew, a 10-year-old ISH mare by Sibon W, was bred in Co Limerick by John Joe Tierney out of the Clover Clon VII mare Athea Clover Breeze. “Athea evented all last season and won a CCI2*-L at Lisgarvan international,” said Scott. “Next time out, and on her last start of the season, I moved her up to three-star level at Ballindenisk, where she went well in dressage and show jumping, but the weather put a stop to us going cross-country. I plan to compete her at three-star level this year.”

Mentioned above, Godfrey Gibbons ended the day with a win in the EI110 with Liam Lynskey’s ISH gelding DS Conn Boy (30 penalties). However, this was an uncontested victory for the Ballinasloe rider and the 2017 DS Are You With Me bay, following the withdrawal of the only other entry.

That win brought up a Gibbons family double, as Godfrey’s younger sister, Katie, claimed Section A of the EI80 class, on her flatwork mark, with Killadoon Lady (30.5 penalties), a 12-year-old Irish Sports Pony by Hans out of the Connemara mare Mac’s Lady (by Mac’s Lad). Duncan McFadyen also completed on his first phase score to place second with RDM Ring Of Happiness (32.5), with dressage winners, Conor Dunlop and Rios Lad, third on a total of (32.8).

Not to be outdone by her first cousins, Ballinrobe’s Rebecca McGrath recorded an all-the-way win in Section B of the EI80 with the only sub-30 penalty score, on Tickerlevan Sun Rise (28.8). This 21-year-old chesnut mare has no recorded pedigree, but does have 93 Show Jumping Ireland points and 55 Dressage Ireland points to her credit. Conor Dunlop finished second on Stoneman Tiger Moth (32.3), ahead of Anne Burns with Glenrock Sparrow (34.3).