JOHN Tilley may not be a familiar face, or name, to many in this country but the Welsh native made an immediate impact on his debut under Eventing Ireland rules when landing the 27-runner EI110 last Saturday at Tyrella where the Northern Region got the 2023 season under way.

Tilley completed on his Janet Hall-awarded joint-third place dressage score (28.3 penalties) with Caunton Manor Stud’s Herkules 281 who was previously campaigned by Oliver Townend.

The seven-year-old German-bred Westfalian gelding by Hermes De Lux is one of 14 horses the rider and partner Andrew Williams are producing under their Kilkenny International banner at Fernhill Stud where they live on-site and share Carol Gee’s wonderful facilities on the outskirts of Kilkenny City.

“Andrew and I were both blown away with Tyrella and, although it’s a long drive, we plan to go back there for Tyrella 2,” said Tilley. “This is our third month to be based in Ireland and we are delighted with the way things are going. It was fantastic to get the ride on Herkules, who is being aimed at Le Lion.” Williams will be better known to readers for his social media promotion of the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale.

There were 21 starters in the EI110 (Open) where Ella Boyle completed on the winning dressage score she was awarded by Lucinda Webb-Graham for her test on her mother Amanda’s Grafenstolz Distinction (21.8 penalties). Boyle and the 12-year-old Grafenstolz gelding recorded three wins at the same level last season.