THE curtain came down on the 2024 Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series at The Meadows last Saturday, when the sponsor’s Judy Maxwell presented the many trophies, sashes, rosettes and prizes to their various winners, who were impeccably turned-out.

Georgia Stubington called the top 15 in the league forward in reverse order to receive their prizes, ending with Denis Currie, who was crowned champion for the fourth time. The sponsor had to be happy with this result as the 69-year-old owner/rider attributed the wellbeing of his 19-year-old Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding Arodstown Aramis to the inclusion of Baileys Ease and Excel Cubes in the bay’s diet.

The various winners were well covered in this column last week apart from Liadan Gal, who was the league’s highest-placed cob.

Ridden by Lisa Mitchell-Talbot, the five-year-old Irish Draught mare by Rajah Clover was bred in Co Louth by John Doherty out of Supreme Cochise (by Cappa Cochise). The grey was purchased last August by Elaine Buller as a working hunter prospect and has qualified in that sphere for the Northern Ireland Festival at Cavan, after which she will be aimed at cob and working hunter classes at Balmoral and Dublin.

Honours

Denis Currie didn’t travel to The Meadows just for the prize-giving ceremony, as he won two of the day’s non-qualifying dressage classes, both of which were judged by Vanda Stewart. In the 11-runner Novice, Currie and Arodstown Aramis (71.5%) claimed the honours ahead of Symone Brown and Merlot (70.8) while, on 68.2, they saw off Laura Birley and Bob Cotton Bandit (67.8), their sole Intermediate rivals.

Stewart also judged the 24-strong Pre-Novice class where she placed Gemma Esler first and third with her own and Norma Wilkinson’s seven-year-old Ramiro B mare Remember Bea (76.3%) and her own thoroughbred gelding Punters Dream (73.3). Rosemary Bellew finished second on another thoroughbred, the mare Belle Saru (74.8).

Away on a family holiday, Zara Reid was unable to attend the final qualifying round in the series and so slipped from the lead to finish fourth. However, she bounced back with a win on Saturday in the Martina McKinley-judged Intro class, where she and her father Gary’s Greylands Diamond Girl scored 73.3%. Best of the remaining 26 combinations were BHS Stage 3 coach Craig Hills and Lisa White’s thoroughbred gelding Squeak’s Bubble (72.5).

The show jumping and eventing arenas were very busy on Saturday, after which Dora Beacom, event organiser for the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland, informed us that, over the seven weeks, 601 combinations had taken part in the series, completing 2,177 activities.

It may look as if Dora and the rest of the NR team can have a bit of a rest before the start of the EI season (down south on Saturday, March 16th, at Frankfort Stud and, locally, a week later at Tyrella) but not so.

On Tuesday evening next, March 5th, there is the volunteers’ information evening in the Belmont Hotel, Banbridge, while on Saturday, March 9th, the annual two-phase competition takes place at Tyrella. Also, on Tuesday, March 12th, and again on Tuesday, March 19th, there are test riding clinics at Danescroft as part of dressage judges’ training.