Sally Parkyn

IT was a close call, but following a week of near biblical weather conditions, the first of Millstreet’s event fixtures was given the green light to run last Sunday.

Fortunately the venue’s superb permanent facilities enabled all but the cross-country to run on sand surfaces and, while the terrain at Drishane Castle, was decidedly soft, all 13 classes were completed as planned.

The ground in the new start area proved the wettest so the organisers quickly omitted two of the early fences and later in the day moved the entire warm-up area.

“Considering the copious rain we had, I was very happy with the outcome,” summed up Thomas Duggan. “We will keep the warm up on the left of the drive for next week’s [tomorrow, April 3rd] fixture, and provided that the weather is fair this week, it should be much better again.”

Course designer Danny Dulohery had wisely built the four tracks with the weather in mind, and while they were not over-big, they posed plenty of influential questions and certainly tested fitness.

O/CNC**

Early season specialist China Doll clocked up her third debut win in four years, when she landed the feature O/CNC** under regular pilot James O’Haire. Benefitting from some winter dressage training with Jane Kinsella, the duo led from the front on 35.5, before adding just 3.2 penalties for time.

“It was certainly very soft in the first field, which was where I know I picked up my time faults,” said the Co Kildare rider. “However, it was a perfect track for the conditions. Had it been twisty, it would have been slippery, but in fact you met the fences straight on and it rode big and bold.”

Patricia Heffernan’s daughter of Warrenstown You 2 now has the Kilguilkey CIC*** in her sights, while a four-star foray to France could be the end of season aim.

“If the owner’s heart holds out, we have our eye on Pau in October!” jested O’Haire.

Second spot was filled by Maria Byrne, who was the only rider to complete on her opening score (39.3). Partnering the speedy OBOS Quality gelding BGS Class Affair, Byrne accurately zipped around both jumping phases, just pipping Fergal Nesbit, who also impressed with the third placed Shannondale Seisun.

The clock proved to be the deciding factor in the following CNC** which fell to the popular local pairing of Angela Dennehy and Kilroe Hero. Time penalties were influential in both jumping phases, and although the winners gained both, their otherwise foot-perfect performance saw them forge ahead of Louise Lyons and Theatreworld (the sole partnership to keep a completely clean sheet in the show jumping) as well as English visitor Sian Hawkes with dressage leader Mr West.

“Delighted with him,” declared Dennehy. “Millstreet really suits him – and he loves it. I was especially pleased with his show jumping, as he can get a bit tense but he jumped very sweetly the whole way.”

Second-placed Lyons, who has recently returned to this level after the birth of baby girl Robin, was equally pleased, as was Hawkes, who is based with Kate Jarvey in Kanturk.

The comparatively new combination of Meabh Bolger and Killossery Athletic Touch cemented their partnership with a good win in the O/CNC*.

Although the class had been reduced to five runners after withdrawals, Bolger could do no more than to post a competitive dressage mark of 31.3 followed by two foot perfect jumping rounds in the fastest time of the class.

The Co Waterford based rider who, together with her partner Brian Flynn, produces horses under the MBF Sport Horses banner, acquired the Out of Touch gelding last autumn. He had previously been ridden by several top professionals but Bolger seems to have found the key. “I bought him from Hughie Ryan last autumn,” she explained. “Hughie knew I was looking for something to give me more experience up the levels, so when this one came on the market, he kindly gave me the first chance to buy him.”

The pair quickly hit winning form at Glandoran in October, and has yet to finish outside the top four. A couple of CCI* international runs are in the pipeline for this exciting partnership, as well as an upgrade to two-star at the national level.

A little slower in the country, Michael Ryan settled for second spot with his first phase leader What Else (43.1), leaving amateur rider Donnacha Anhold with his smart new ride AP Topstar (49.8) in third. It was a good day for the Co Sligo-based Anhold, who later claimed the EI 100A with Morning Star.

TRICKY

Up to this point the cross-country jumping had relatively little influence, but it did test the runners in the CNC* and at the lower levels. The historically tricky drop to skinny (8ab) caught out several riders, as did an offset double of logs later in the track at 13ab.

However neither fence troubled Polly Holohan who, having stamped her authority on the class from the outset, won with Boolagh Crescendo. The 11-year-old thoroughbred by Hubbly Bubbly added just four time faults to his opening score (total 27.5).

They headed Ian Walsh who produced the sole double clear round with the immaculate Elm Hill (29.0) and Patrick Whelan with the youngster Denis Finch Hatton (see One To Watch). Bred by Tony Sutton and sourced as a two-year-old, the winner has been produced by Holohan throughout.

“We have been working hard all winter to consolidate the dressage and show jumping,” she explained. “I have also changed my bitting arrangements, and for the cross-country I now use the same copper ring snaffle I used to use on my Olympic horse Rusticas. It really seems to work, and he can now gallop in balance without pulling.”

The well-placed John Glynn (Shanaclough Tory Hill) lost his chance to improve when glancing off at the drop to skinny (8ab) while Sarah Dowley looked likely to fill second before Shannondale Dita clocked up an expensive 20 penalties at the water.