THE Northern Region of Eventing Ireland not only had to deal with the Covid-19 dictated late start to the season but the weather also played its part in curtailing the action.

Just two events were held in the period under review, the first on Saturday, September 5th at Loughanmore, which had been postponed from August 22nd due to heavy rain, with the second being held a fortnight later at Knockany.

Jenny Nixon, riding her eight-year-old Cruise On Harley gelding Coolmount Cruise, competed at both venues, winning the EI100 Amateur at Loughanmore in spite of a pole down show jumping but only finishing fifth in the EI90 Amateur at Knockany where she completed on her dressage score.

A final-year physiotherapy student at the University of Ulster, Nixon purchased ‘Harley’, her first horse, from his Co Meath breeder, Oinri Jackson, as a five-year-old in the summer of 2017.

“Oinri had given him an excellent start, producing a confident and honest young horse,” commented the rider who has worked part-time for the past year as a groom for the WKD show jumping team at Sycamore Stables.

“I like to take him out to the beach or forest. He loves to swim but I’ll only venture that far out into the sea on a warm summer day. He gets time off in the field in the autumn and then I usually take him show jumping before the events start again. He is an absolute dream to work around and has always looked after me.

“Harley is stabled at Danescroft Equestrian Centre where he is very happy and exceptionally well cared for. If things return to normal next year, I would like to keep eventing. My plan is to go out and enjoy myself no matter the result and if it all comes together on the day that’s just a bonus!”

There wasn’t much competition in the Region at 110 level. Just three started at Loughanmore where, following the elimination of one rival and the retirement of the other in the show jumping phase, Denis Currie recorded his second success of the season with Arodstown Aramis.

Multiple regional champion Currie and his 15-year-old Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding lowered two of the coloured poles that day and also at Knockany where they picked up their first cross-country jumping penalties in three years. With additional time penalties, they completed on 68.2 to finish second.

The winner of the three-runner class was Co Meath property development manager Sharon Reilly and her 13-year-old Inocent gelding Until Proven Guilty who also incurred 20 jumping penalties on the final leg. While slower across the country, they had, however, won the dressage phase and show jumped clear for a completion score of 67.1.