THE weather had its effect on last Saturday’s second leg of the Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series at The Meadows with numbers down across the board, as icy conditions in certain areas forced some intending competitors to stay at home.

There were obviously no such issues around Newtownards as Clinton McCrea transported two horses across to Lurgan for his daughter Erin who, in the Novice dressage, finished first on her new ride for the upcoming eventing season, Eisfee (76%), and fourth with Rubane Candy (70).

Also double-handed, Alex Houston placed second on her Pre-Novice winner from week one, My Atlantic Encore (72), aka Dinky, and fifth with her four-star ride Minty Imp (68.5), aka Indy. Judge Lucinda Webb-Graham awarded a score of 71.3 to Anita Doherty riding Goldiva, which saw that combination slot into third.

This was a first start in the series this year for McCrea, but she had competed in the ‘Cash Back Dressage’ earlier in the month at the McCusker family’s equestrian centre.

Readers will remember Eisfee being campaigned here for two seasons by Susan Shanahan, whose last outing with the Hanoverian mare came when she finished 22nd on the grey as an individual at the European Junior eventing championships at Hartpury in July 2022. Last year, Eisfee, who is by Embassy I out of a Foxhunter mare, competed in Britain, where she was partnered first by Olivia Petersen and then by Felicity Collins. Back in 2019 and 2020, the now 17-year-old ran seven times at four-star level, when ridden by Britain’s David Doel.

“We got Eisfee about three weeks ago,” said 17-year-old McCrea, who is studying for her A-Levels at Belfast Royal Academy, an institution she has represented many times in schools show jumping competitions. “She finds everything easy to do and is a very talented mare. She is everything we were looking for.” ‘We’ mainly encompasses Erin and her father Clinton, who fills many roles at events, as her mother, Caroline, gets very nervous and would rather stay at home.

“I’ll finish out the flexi-eventing league with both mares and then see what happens,” continued the rider. “I’m just getting to know Eisfee, but would love to make the Junior team with her. I’m taking part in the high performance programme and was recently training at Abbotstown.”

Katie McKee riding Bear, winners of the Intro A Dressage at week two of the Flexi Eventing at the Meadows \ Tori O'Connor

Intermediate win

On 62.8%, Nichola Wray finished down the field in that 16-strong Novice class with Dylan. However, she and her eight-year-old Lislap Benedict gelding recorded an uncontested win in the Intermediate class, where Angeline Nicholson awarded them a score of 64.6, and were clear in their cross-country phase.

Nineteen combinations came before Nicholson in the Pre-Novice class, but just one achieved a score of 70% or more, while there were two retirements.

The honours went to Richhill’s Zoe Daniel riding her mother Margaret’s Anvil Lodge Pinnochio (71.5%) on whom she had three outings at EI100 (J) level last season, winning and placing second on their first two starts at Tullymurry in July. Representing Area 17 and the Iveagh Branch, the combination finished fourth in the Intermediate Pony Club combined training at the Dublin Horse Show in August.

The runner-up spot went to Grassroots graduate, Claire Ireland, riding her longterm partner Goin For Gold (66.5%), a 16-year-old palomino gelding, while Ian McCluggage did his bit for the male of the species by finishing third on 66.3 with Lir (aka Shannaghmore Ring Master), a nine-year-old Irish Draught gelding by Windgap Blue.

Once again, the Intro class was divided, with 17 combinations starting in Section A and 24 in Section B.

A series double was completed in Section B, where Penny Sangster awarded her highest marks to Kaiti McCann and her father Martin’s 15-year-old skewbald mare, Boyher Cookies N Crème (78.5%). Here, Marina Stewart finished second on her working hunter Troy, who was competing in his third dressage test. Eight other combinations scored over 70%.

Well-established

Zara Reid failed to bring off a double in the Lucinda Webb-Graham-judged Section A, where she and her father Gary’s 14-year-old bay mare Greylands Diamond Girl (72.5%) had to settle for second behind the well-established pairing of Katie McKee and Water Paint (75). McKee and her nine-year-old skewbald gelding, who goes by the stable name of ‘Bear’, won a 21-runner EI90 class at Tullymurry last July and rounded off their season when fourth of 19 in the EI90 national championship in September.

The Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series continues today and every Saturday until February 24th (prize-giving day), with points being awarded for performance and attendance up until the previous Saturday, February 17th. Special prizes are on offer for the highest-placed thoroughbred, the highest-placed Riding Club and Pony Club member, as well as prizes for the top six Pony Club members in dressage.