SEVEN Eventing Ireland one-days were staged in July when Lucy McIlroy returned to form in no uncertain manner and, at time of writing, she and her mother Angela’s Irish Sport Horse Major Black had kicked clear of Godfrey Gibbons and Milchem Miami at EI110 level by 58 points to 20.

Based with Smith Brothers Eventing, 20-year-old McIlroy and the traditionally-bred 13-year-old Imperial Hights gelding brought up a hat trick when winning the Cullen Equine Solutions EI110 (Open) at the inaugural running of The Clare on Saturday, July 8th. Major Black, who was bred in Co Monaghan by Amelia Coniskey, is a full-brother of Imperial Wonder who McIlroy qualified for the Junior/Young Rider event horse class at this week’s Dublin Horse Show.

The leading young rider as this period came to an end was Daniel Meagher who competes at that level with his father James’ nine-year-old Mermus R gelding A Classic Sportsfield.

Tom Nestor and his father David’s ISH gelding Cooley Diamond Dancer, an 11-year-old by Jack Of Diamonds, are still well clear of their rivals at EI110 (J) level. They competed in just one national event during this time, finishing second of 17 behind Oleana Cowan and RCA Royal Mist at Ballindenisk (2) on Sunday, July 16th.

This was a competitive class from where Jasper Kelly placed ninth, on his dressage score, with the subsequent Crecora (2) winner, his mother Lucy’s seven-year-old OBOS Quality 004 mare Agatha Raisin, another combination who were due to compete at the RDS this week.

Other Junior riders to score at this level in the period under review included Eva O’Neill with Miriam O’Donnell’s 17-year-old gelding Blessington Prince Royal at The Clare on Saturday, July 8th, and Martha Dolan on Melanie Foot’s ISH mare Quidams Liquidgold Cruiser, an eight-year-old bay by Arkle Cruise, at Hillcrest (3) the following day.

Second season EI competitor James Murphy won the EI110 (J) with the ISH gelding Kylestone Carrick Prince, a Carrick Diamond Lad nine-year-old, at Tullymurry on Saturday, July 15th, but didn’t contest the same class at the same venue a week later when Lee Bloomfield saw off two rivals to win on Jane Hancock’s ISH gelding Skyhills Cavalier, a 19-year-old bay son of Cavalier Two For Joy.

Ciara O’Connor, who was a member of Ireland’s bronze medal-winning team at the Eventing European Championships for Ponies in France recently, warmed up for that challenge by winning the EI110 (P) at Ballindenisk (2) on her team pony Agharanny Minstrel, her mother Edwina’s 16-year-old Castleside J.J stallion.

Competing under EI rules for the first time this season, Sarah Smullen is fortunate to have the ride on the very experienced traditionally-bred Cloughreagh Charlie, Michael Love’s 15-year-old Westside Mirah bay on whom she won the EI110 (P) at Hillcrest (3) on Sunday, July 9th.

At Crecora on Sunday, July 23rd, half of the 12 starters completed in the Tiggy Hancock Memorial EI110 (P) where the honours went to Gilby Monaghan riding the nine-year-old I Love You Melody mare Longwood Laura. Owned by the rider’s aunt Rolline O’Callaghan, Longwood Laura was chased home by five other Connemara ponies.