THE TopSpec Amateur Eventing League continued around the country in recent weeks with legs held in Lisgarvan House, Tyrella and Rosanna.

The Corrigan family’s well-supported Lisgarvan House event was wrapped in sunshine as it boasted excellent ground conditions and reputable cross-country challenges.

Kitty Shanahan made it a day to remember leading the TopSpec CNC*A from start to finish with her home produced OBOS Quality Duiske Abbey.

Shanahan, who runs her own business as an equine and canine osteopath, looked polished around the country, the combination making little of the fences despite being their debut run at this level.

Hannah Watson opened her season in fine style by winning the 33-competitor strong TopSpec EI100A by a margin. Reliable as always throughout all three phases, Watson and her Connemara Thoroughbred cross Kings Fionn finished on an impressive dressage score of 23.5, awarded by local dressage judge Pat Ryan.

The combination were chased consecutively by Claire O’Neill, who manages her enterprise Meab Enamels, on her own Cougar son Predator, and Co Meath-based student Ailbhe McGrath on board Bridgeman Cocoa Malt, with both combinations finishing on their dressage.

Tyrella (3) was a day of all four seasons but the fabulous sandy footing held up as almost 60 amateurs competed over the Adam Stevenson-designed cross-country courses.

Alison Crothers and her own Waikato Ko were denied their third TopSpec CNC*A win in a row by the smallest margin by Emily Morris making her season debut with her own Florida Bud.

Morris’s TB son of Florida Son had only one-second worth of a time fault cross-country to add to their leading dressage score with Crothers taking home the blue rosette on the day.

WELCOME RETURN

The hard-working Northern Region committee member Denis Currie made a welcome return to the playing field by winning a competitive TopSpec EI100A on new mount Arodstown Aramis.

Well known for his successful partnership with the recently retired Being Strait, Currie and his smart Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding, Arodstown Aramis, proved untouchable when recording faultless jumping rounds.

Co Down-based accountant Vicky Dobbin filled second place with her stunning mare Killaughey Belle. Dobbin and her Master Imp-sired mount have firmly established themselves as strong early contenders in the TopSpec EI100A league by bettering their previous weeks result and climbing further up the leader board.

Rosanna event in Co Wicklow was a happy hunting ground yet again for amateur competitor Nicola Hobson and Cuffesgrange Kings Quality. A winner at the Wilding family’s stunning venue last year, Hobson and her OBOS Quality gelding won the TopSpec CNC*A by an unconquerable 12 point margin.

Local heating contractor Gerry Reid filled second spot with his much admired colored gelding Raheenwood Noble.

Hannah Watson took home her second red rosette in as many weeks, winning a large TopSpec EI100A class.

Proving unbeatable to date this season, Watson and her own Kings Fionn put in a solid dressage performance in front of judge Ann Kirwan to lead the class from start to finish.

Closest rival Lesley-Ann Lyons finished less than a pole behind on her own evergreen dun Rupert Bear, the consistent dun looking remarkable and showing little sign of his 19 years.