THE second Eventing Ireland Grassroots Championships were staged as a standalone fixture last weekend at Ballindenisk, where they were sponsored by TRI Equestrian.

Last season, when they were run in late August, on the final day of the Lisgarvan international, these championships attracted 95 starters. Last weekend, just 58 combinations competed in the dressage phase on Saturday, a day before the South Munster Region of Dressage Ireland held the final of their midweek summer special series at the Fell family’s Co Cork venue.

The dressage judging duties at the Grassroots Championships were divided between Paula Geiger, who conducted a ‘through the judge’s eyes’ demonstration with EI youth ambassador Kate Walsh on Saturday evening, Marie Hennessy (who was also in situ on Sunday) and Marian Slattery. Peter Fell designed the three cross-country courses, while the show jumping tracks were built by Tony Hurley.

As action in the Northern Region only resumed the previous Saturday at The Clare, it wasn’t surprising that there were just three representatives at Ballindenisk, two of whom, the Watson siblings, Zach and Charlie, landed titles while the other, Emma Plunkett, finished reserve.

Zach Watson (13), who made his Eventing Ireland debut at Hazeldene in late May, just had to complete to win the EI80 championship, as he was the only starter. However, he achieved an MER on the Irish Sport Horse gelding Toberpatrick Gentle Dove, when adding just four show jumping penalties and 3.6 cross-country time penalties to his Marion Slattery-awarded dressage score of 33.5.

Owned by the rider’s mother Louise, the traditionally-bred Toberpatrick Gentle Dove is a seven-year-old grey mare by the thoroughbred stallion Financial Reward. She was bred in Co Wicklow by Kieran Kinsella, out of the Connemara mare Toberpatrick Fair Lady (by Bunowen Darragh).

Charlie Watson, who will be 12 next month, completed on her winning dressage score of 29 penalties to win the EI80 (P) championship on the Connemara mare Leamore Girl. Here, Emma Plunkett finished reserve with the 10-year-old black gelding Scrabo Blaze, whose total of 35.6 included 0.8 of a cross-country time penalty. The third and final place was filled, on her first phase score, by Lily Corrigan and 101 Dalmatians (36.8).

Like her brother, Watson is a first season competitor with Eventing Ireland and this was her first success on her grandfather Mervyn Gibson’s Leamore Girl. The seven-year-old dun by Classiebawn Hughs Promise was bred by Tommy Hynes out of the Glann’s Owen mare Rookley Princess. Charlie was a recipient of a Beesley & Co turn-out award.