THERE was great support from the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland for Saturday’s one-day event at Killossery Lodge Stud where Steven Smith recorded a double on Anvil Lodge Pinnochio and EMS Florence.

Previously campaigned by breeder Claire Byrne, Trevor Smith’s Anvil Lodge Pinnochio has recorded six double clears from seven outings at one-star level since moving north last summer and, on all but two occasions, the grey has come home inside the time across the country.

The eight-year-old Grange Bouncer gelding was only lying sixth following Yvonne Monahan’s judging of the dressage phase in Saturday’s 20-runner CNC* class but completed on his flatwork score of 33.5 to post his first EI success.

A costly 1.6 time penalties on the final leg denied Florence Campbell victory on the 14-year-old Master Imp gelding Imperial Master as they completed on 33.6.

Riding the six-year-old Beach Ball mare Beltrim Sweet Clover, Trevor Smith also picked up 1.6 for time over the fixed fences and he had to settle for third place on 34.6.

The dressage leaders on 28 penalties, Joanne Jarden and her home-bred eight-year-old mare MJI Wendy, lost their hold on the top spot with a pole down show jumping and slipped to fourth with the addition of 7.2 time penalties in the final phase.

The home-based combination of Symone Brown and Rozel Cool Touch were just one penalty point off the lead following dressage but picked up time penalties on both jumping phases to drop from joint second to seventh (42.6). Local rider Stephen McAvinchey, who was also on 29 after dressage with Scattery Katie, dropped all the way to 15th, his total of 77.6 being comprised mainly of time penalties.

There were two eliminations across the country, Sandra Cusack and Shannondale Ditto getting the big E for three refusals at fence nine, the birch oxer, while Matthew Johnston was eliminated for cumulative refusals with Derryinver Ye Wee Boy.

Gilford-based Smith brought up his double in the EI100 class on Diane Harron-Eakin’s EI newcomer EMS Florence who he qualified at Ravensdale Lodge for the five-year-old young event horse class at the RDS next month.

The grey mare, who is by Loch Cruise and was bred in Co Donegal by Willie McIlhinney out of his Horace mare Kilshane Mansha, completed on her dressage score of 26.5 while the Emma Jackson-partnered Ardglen Diva Dancer, another mare, also finished on her first phase score of 29.5.

With his eyes firmly set on this weekend’s National Championships in Ballindenisk, Ian Cassells withdrew the dressage winner Silver Ridge (23) after his clear show jumping round.

REAL CRACKER

As Steven Smith was rushing off to Ballinamona, brother Trevor explained that as Anvil Lodge Pinnochio is their own, he only gets out when there’s room on the lorry for him to compete. “He’s a real cracker though and may go to Camphire. The mare (EMS Florence) heads to Dublin.”

Only two started in the open/novice class where Isabelle Crosse riding Turfmaster completed on her winning dressage score of 35.5. The Wicklow native and her 2002 Ghareeb gelding last competed in an EI event in October 2011 but did some show jumping in 2012 and 2013.

Busy studying Sports Management at UCD and juggling work placements, Crosse gave the Noel Redmond-bred chesnut to Declan Crowley when he was based in England last year. There they finished in the first six in half of their eight starts with a best place finish of second in an intermediate at Wilton.

Again on work placement for the summer, Crosse isn’t thinking too far ahead for Turfmaster but plans to compete at Marguerite Lodge and Tattersalls.

“They did a great job with the ground at Killossery,” she stated.

All but three of the eight who started in the EI 100J class completed on their dressage scores.

The odd ones out included Caoimhe Eivers who added four show jumping penalties to the winning dressage score of 25 she had been awarded by Pat Creighton for her flat work on Stellor Kings Cruise but held on to score by three points. The Trim combination had also been successful here last month.

Having won a Killossery EI 90 class under Fiona Fitzgibbon in May, the thoroughbred Ballybay Boy, an eight-year-old Millkom gelding, finished second (32) under owner Sandra McGaffin’s son Michael.

Two thoroughbreds topped the leaderboard at the conclusion of Saturday’s EI 90 class in which there were just seven starters.

The only combination to complete on their dressage score were the winners, Ballyclare’s Amy Griffith with her Insan mare Ballymacenallen Arial who was making just her third start of the season. The 12-year-old bay was bred by the senior event squad veterinary surgeon Hugh Suffern out of the French-bred Cerise De Totes (by Champ Libre).

The Fiona Fitzgibbon-ridden Acclaimed Angel finished second on his EI debut when adding four show jumping penalties to his winning dressage mark of 31.5. A six-year-old by the top-class two-year-old sprinter Dark Angel, the well-bred grey gelding has been competing with some success in ex-racehorse classes this season having displayed little promise on the track.

Also making his eventing debut in third was the Connemara Killaan Blu who, under Ciara Gilroy, had a fence down show jumping to complete on 37.5. This seven-year-old Laerkens Cascade Dawn gelding qualified at Scarteen for the younger Connemara performance hunter championship at Dublin.

HUGE ENTRY

With a huge entry in the Irish Pony Club one-day event at Tattersalls on Sunday it wasn’t surprising that there were so few ponies entered here and that those who did compete mainly came from the Northern Region.

Lucy Johnston from Richhill in Co Armagh won the duel for the EI 100P class. Riding her mother Lesley’s seven-year-old Connemara gelding Tynan Mist, she held a comfortable lead after dressage on 30.5 to which she added four show jumping penalties and 1.2 for time across the country.

Johnston and Tynan Mist, a grey by Crusheen Comet out of a Streamstown Larry mare, have only once been out of the top three in seven EI starts.

Following the withdrawal of Mayson Ben after show jumping and the elimination of dressage leader (35.5) Attyrory Bucks Fizz on the final leg, Hillsborough’s Joanna Eames won the EI 90P class when completing on her flat work score of 41 with TBS Ferdinand.

Owned by Neill McCluskey, the six-year-old gelding is another pure-bred Connemara being by Glenayre Silver Fox out of the Ashfield Bobby Sparrow mare Dandy Sparrow. Making his EI debut on Saturday, the grey has 47 SJI points.