Margie McLoone

SIX of the 13 full eventing classes at Annaharvey on Sunday were won by male riders with Donnacha Anhold’s excellent season continuing in the four-runner O/CNC** class where, leading from the outset, he recorded the only clear cross-country round on AP Topstar.

Winners of the CNC* Amateur National Championship at Tattersalls the previous weekend, the Sligo solicitor and his 11-year-old Graf Top gelding picked up 16.8 time penalties over the fixed fences but show jumped clear to complete on 48.2. Anhold finished second in the CNC* Amateur class with his seven-year-old Silvano mare Morning Star.

Having driven down to Annaharvey on Saturday night following his win at Ballyvannon, Stephen Smith had mixed luck at the Co Westmeath venue.

Although dramatically knocking one show jump, EMS Florence gained an important qualification in the intermediate class but her clear across the country on her first start at this level followed a fall for Smith with Bellaney Express at the open ditch (seven) in the O/CNC**

“He just completely misread the fence,” said Smith of the nine-year-old thoroughbred gelding.

Oinri Jackson also led from start to finish to land the three-runner open novice class with the 10-year-old Cruising gelding Sallymount Du Cruise, whose completion score of 36.2 included 6.4 cross-country time penalties. The owner/rider finished seventh in the EI90 class on Sallymount Du Cruise’s son Carrickmacross Du Cruise, a five-year-old newcomer out of a Lux Z mare.

Only two combinations started in the CNCP** class and, while Harry Swan and Villa Prince were nearly six points adrift of Mimi O’Grady and Rosog Rusty after dressage and had a pole down show jumping, they set out with purpose across the country. Two time penalties brought the Cloughjordan combination’s score up to 43.3, while their rivals’ completion mark of 44.7 included 13.2 for time on the final leg.

Cameron Kiernan didn’t run SOS Undeniable in that class but the Co Cork rider dominated the EI100J section, which he claimed on his winning dressage score with Fernhill Nearly Darc (25 penalties).

The 15-year-old and his 10-year-old Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding, who didn’t enjoy the best of outings at the National Championships, are heading to Ballinamona next weekend in a bid to record their third win of the campaign. Having her first Eventing Ireland start of the year, Niamh Farrell finished second with her new ride, Ballycorman Graaf (30.3).

The marks were a lot tighter in the EI90 class where the first seven all finished on their dressage scores and within four points of one another. The winners on 28.5 were Luke Drea with the exotically-named Tatyana Ramirovna, a five-year-old Hold Up Premier mare out of Ramiro Flight (by Ramiro B), who was having just her fourth start.

There was a quality-packed field of 35 starters in the EI100 class, which was claimed by the repatriated Cooley On Ice, who finished on his winning dressage score of 27 penalties under Michelle Kenny. The seven-year-old Castlecomer Q gelding was bred in Co Offaly by Pat Kinsella out of the Coevers Diamond Boy mare Diamond Queen Forever.

Most disappointed when AC Remus had to be withdrawn from the EI100P National Championships having injured himself in his stable, Co Kildare’s Annalise Cullen recorded an all-the-way win at the same level here on Machno Delwyn, whose completion score of 32.6 included four show jumping penalties and 0.8 for time across the country. Cullen was having her first EI start on the nine-year-old gelding who was previously campaigned at two-star level by Sarah Connell. The Swan family’s trip to Annaharvey paid off when Harry finished second on Monaincha Ross who had a much better show jumping round than at Tattersalls a week earlier.

On just her second EI start, and the first for her mount, show jumper Chloe Fagan led from start to finish to land the EI90P class on her flat phase score (28.3) with Moydrum Buchaill Bui.

The five-year-old Connemara gelding, who is owned by the rider’s father Mark, the Co Westmeath veterinary surgeon, racehorse trainer and schooling gallops owner, was bred near Athlone by Grainne Keane. He is by Templebready Fear Bui out of the I Love You Melody mare Galloon Silver Rose. Not having had the best of luck recently, it was great to see Lily Keogh finish second (29.8) on her new ride, the 18-year-old chesnut mare Gucci III who brought the Northern Region’s Hollie Smith up through the ranks.