OVER the three events at Lightsource BP Tyrella (3), Hillcrest (1) and Frankfort Stud (3) in recent weeks, there were no dual winners among the amateur ranks although two riders named Denis won at EI110 level.

First up, Denis Currie landed the four-runner class at the Corbett family’s Co Down estate on his 18-year-old Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding Arodstown Aramis on whom he has amassed 34 league points having won and placed second on the bay at the same venue earlier in the season.

Travelled

Having paid two visits north already this year, Co Meath’s Denis Coakley travelled south last Saturday to Frankfort Stud where he saw off his sole rival to win with his well-related 13-year-old Porsch mare Sugar Bunnie. Between times, the three-runner EI110 (Amateur) at Hillcrest went the way of Noelle Reidy and her 17-year-old black gelding Ballinhassig.

There was a large field of 20 runners in the EI100 (Amateur) at Tyrella (3) and a comprehensive victor in Rolline O’Callaghan who completed on her winning dressage score with her 13-year-old Smooth Operator gelding Splendid B. The Kildare rider finished five penalty points clear of the locally-based Christina Turley (Ann’s Bob) who she leads by 34 points to 30 in the league.

British rider Mariella Letman warmed up for the CCI1*-Intro at Ballindenisk by comfortably winning the eight-runner EI100 (Amateur) at Hillcrest on her dressage score with PLS Coconuts. Tipperary-based Letman and her nine-year-old River Casanova mare actually led at the international following the flat work phase but, with jumping and time penalties over the coloured poles, dropped down to seventh.

Penalties

Meath’s Claire O’Dwyer faced just two opponents at Frankfort Stud where, with eight show jumping penalties, she narrowly held on to record her first success since July 2020 on her traditionally-bred 11-year-old Watermill Swatch gelding Knockmullen Lad.

Three very different horses were partnered to victory at EI90 (Amateur) level.

At Tyrella (3), where there were a dozen starters, the honours went to Armagh’s Sheena Kerr and her 15-year-old dark bay cob Pegasus who were having their second start since returning to the Eventing Ireland fold this season following a three-year break.

Six of the seven starters at Hillcrest completed with the winning score being recorded by Aisling O’Brien on her unraced home-bred Masons Honour, an 11-year-old gelding by City Of Honours. Amy Anderson and her ISH mare Casadh na Taoide, an eight-year-old daughter of Leo Lothario, completed on their winning dressage score in the eight-runner EI90 (Amateur) class at Frankfort Stud last Saturday.

O’Brien and Masons Honour now lead the league on 22 points ahead of Eve McDowell on Nakuti and Sheena Kerr with Pegasus who are on 20 points apiece in second.