CHRISTOPHER Whyte (21), who is studying Business at the Athlone Institute of Technology, recorded his first Eventing Ireland success on Sunday when landing Section A of the EI100 at Punchestown with Lady Craft.

The 2015 Puissance mare, who Whyte purchased as a three-year-old in Goresbridge, was bred by Rosemary Ponsonby out of the unraced Warcraft Kate (by Warcraft). On her fourth start under Eventing Ireland rules, the bay completed on her dressage score (31.3). “She’s for sale but, if not sold, I wouldn’t mind producing her up the grades,” said Whyte of his winner. “She will go jumping now for a month before having a break.”

Jonny Steele, who had nine rides over the weekend, landed Section B with Harold Lusk’s Boss Quality on whom he had also won at the same level last time out at Knockany. Steele led from start to finish on the six-year-old OBOS Quality 004 gelding bred by Brian Treacy out of his Clover Fields mare, Treacys Clover.

A Northern Region rider also won Saturday’s unrestricted EI100 with Lesley Jones completing on her winning dressage score on Yvonne Pearson’s former show horse, Cairnview Redwood Guy. The six-year-old Loughehoe Guy gelding, who was winning for the first time on his fifth start this season, was bred by Geraldine Quinn out of the Clover Hill mare Cairnview Clover Crystal.

There were two EI90 classes on Sunday, the first of which was won by a near five-point margin by Amanda Goldsbury on Hans Kuehnle’s Connemara five-year-old, Ilane Commotion. The dun by Ardgaineen Revel was bred by Thomas Vaughan out of the True Commotion mare, Dawn Heather.

Section B went Gilly Crawford-owned and ridden Kilcurry Shutterfly, another to complete on his first phase score. Having his third start, the six-year-old Sir Shutterfly gelding was bred in Louth by Eileen Duggan and Brendan Hearty out of the Puissance mare Wonnie.

The organisers were very appreciative of the help from volunteers who, on Sunday, got home earlier than they might have anticipated when entries were first opened.