THE extended Turley and O’Connor families rallied around as usual to host the first of two consecutive Northern Region one-day events at Tullymurry last Saturday, an occasion which marked the 34th year of eventing at the Co Down venue.

One regular competitor over the years has been Steven Smith who, having left The Clare the previous weekend without a single success to his credit from four rides, got back to winning ways here and did so on the double, landing the five-runner EI110 (Open) and the 30-strong EI100.

Suzanne Hagan led the EI110 (Open) after dressage with the Dutch Warmblood mare Karolita O (26.3) but, with time penalties on both jumping phases, she had to settle for the runner-up spot on a total of 31.5. Meanwhile, Smith moved up a place to claim victory with Handsome Starr (27.7), who was a second over the time in the show jumping phase.

This was a second win from three starts this season for Virginia Maguire’s thoroughbred gelding Handsome Starr, the 12-year-old September Storm bay having finished second to Wellan Summertime at The Clare seven days earlier. “Handsome Starr will do some more NR events and then be aimed at the CCI2*-L at Lisgarvan,” commented Smith.

“I was delighted with the performance of my EI100 winner Annaghmore Cornoko and with that of our Junior rider Hannah Groves, who secured an impressive win on MMF Churchill in the EI100 (J), and they hope to develop a partnership and aim for the junior team in 2025. The entire Tullymurry team did an excellent job of preparing beautifully dressed fences, and took suggestions from riders on board on how to adjust and improve the track.”

Nothing to add

The Gilford rider brought up his double in the EI100 with Campbell McClean’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Annaghmore Cornoko, who completed on his winning dressage score (21.8 penalties). Only two other non hors concours riders recorded double clears inside the time to remain on their Janet Hall-awarded flatwork marks of 33.8 apiece, Casey Webb with the sixth-placed Our Pollyanna, who was closer to the optimum time across the country, and Sarah Sproule, who finished seventh on Ballyneety Cavalier Imp.

Penalty scores

In addition to Smith, three other riders completed on sub-30 penalty scores – Orlagh Halliday with the thoroughbred gelding Cold War (28.5), who had a fence down show jumping; Rebekah McKinstry with the ISH gelding HVL Jack Pot, whose total of 29.4 included 1.6 cross-country time penalties; and Jonny Steele, who was a second over the time on the final leg with Mezcal (29.7), a five-year-old ISH gelding by Ganesh Hero Z who was making his EI debut.

A five-year-old bay gelding by HHS Cornet, Annaghmore Cornoko was bred in Co Offaly by Aoife Healion, who also bred the HHS Cornet gelding Annaghmore Dunkirk, winner of the All-Ireland three-year-old championship at Bannow and Rathangan last Thursday week and his half-brother Annaghmore Flo Pleasure (by For Kinmar Hero Z), who was crowned champion young horse at Mullingar on Sunday. Annaghmore Cornoko is out of the Iroko mare Annaghmore Temptress, in whom Healion shared breeding rights with neighbour John Maguire. The Dutch Warmblood-mare bred seven foals who are listed on CapallOir, including the 2015 Beach Ball gelding Annaghmore Rebel Beach/Cooley Neptune, who is eventing in the United States. Healion and Maguire have retained the sole filly among the septet, the three-year-old Annaghmore Livoko (by SIEC Livello).