Margie McLoone

THE Stepping Stones to Success League organiser Orla Roche and her husband Patrick Peare had Wexford Equestrian in prime order for Tuesday’s finals but there was nothing they could do about the weather and there were very few spectators in attendance.

However, thanks to sponsorship from TopSpec, all jumping rounds can be viewed on IrishSport.tv whose Lar Sutton braved the elements all day as he recorded the action from the balcony overlooking the Derby Arena. Commentators Declan Cullen and Hugh Douglas (with help from brother Paul) stayed dry.

Both regular dressage judges, Anne Marie Dunphy and Sasha Stewart, assessed the flat work phase on Tuesday in the indoor arena and their scores were added together but just one score was given for the outside conformation phase judged by Susan Stoney and Brian Lusk.

Assessor

Scrutinising the jumping action was main Stepping Stones judge Ian Fearon and guest assessor J.P. Sheffield, the British international event rider. Both showed a good turn of foot when it came to running for the judge’s box during the worst of the rain.

Course designer and builder Dereck Hamilton had to remain outside with the arena party so he was hoping for fine weather today at Badminton where he is a member of the fence repair crew having been invited over by the Willis Brothers.

Once the jumping action had concluded three riders, Alex Donohue, David Furlong and Jackilynn Breslin, were interviewed by the judges and it was Donohue who received the silver salver as winner of the Jessica Harrington young rider award.

The Gorey native, winner of The Irish Field young event rider award in 2007, also received a bursary offered by Sheffield covering a week’s training and accommodation at his yard in Leicestershire.