STEVEN Smith had plenty to celebrate last Saturday as the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland paid its second visit of 2021 to the Corbett family’s Tyrella estate.

Firstly, the Gilford rider won both EI115 classes at the Lightscourse BP-sponsored venue; secondly, his daughter Hollie returned to eventing for the first time since August, 2019; and thirdly, when he returned home, Steven had the pleasant task of ‘phoning Charles Blackmore, following the historic success of the latter’s daughter Rachael in the Randox Grand National at Aintree.

“I didn’t see Rachael winning on Minella Times but I was delighted when I heard the result,” said Smith. “We got to know Rachael’s parents through Joe Marley, who drives one of the trucks for us, and we have become very good friends; we stay overnight in their place if we are competing down that way. Joe didn’t back Rachael on Saturday but Gareth O’Shea (father of Junior rider Sarah) did!

“Since she stopped eventing, Hollie has been concentrating on show jumping,” continued Smith. “However, she was tempted back to eventing when Claire Palmer offered her the ride on her horse (Rozel Cool Touch) for Saturday and, although competing hors concours, she had a really good spin around the EI100 course. We’ll just have to see now if she’ll go again!”

As for his own results, Smith first landed the EI115 (Open) where, recording the only double clear inside the time with June Burgess’s 13-year-old Clover Echo gelding Galwaybay Echo, he completed on the winning dressage score of 20 penalties which he was awarded by Rosie Gomes.

Apart from the Lucca Stubington-partnered Quingenti lowering a frangible-pinned pole, all 13 starters jumped clear around the Adam Stevenson-designed cross-country course in this Open class but the three-part water at six caught out some of the less experienced horses in the 23-strong EI115 division as did the drop to skinnies at 15.

Here, three combinations completed on their Vanda Stewart-awarded dressage scores although the leader after the first phase, Anita Doherty with Tiboy Des Etisses (28), was one of three who retired following problems across the country.

Smith fared best when winning with Fredie Fox (33.4), the busy and consistent Sarah Ennis placed second on Stellor Quick Change (34.6) while Alex Houston finished fourth with Minty Imp (41.4). Third place was occupied by Smith on Mike Of Mourne who had a pole down show jumping for a total of 35.1.

Galwaybay Echo, who was having just his seventh start under Smith, is set to line-up with stable-companion Hi Happy Harry in the CCI4*-L at Ballindenisk next week, although Burgess and Smith were unnecessarily frustrated to be first informed that the combination was not qualified.

Terry Johnston’s eight-year-old Cruising Harry gelding Fredie Fox, who won on his EI115 debut the previous weekend, will not be joining his stable-companions on the trip to Co Cork but, instead, will be having a bit of a break. “I don’t want to rush this fellow too much and get a lot of points up,” said Smith. “I think a lot of him and have to consider his long-term future.”

Second in the EI115 (Open) with his own Van Thee Man (23.5), Kilkeel’s Adam Haugh is another rider whose horses are in excellent form and he landed the 32-runner EI110 on Mandy Boyle’s Denali with whom he had won the EI100 the previous weekend.

While this eight-year-old Hanoverian mare has had just six runs under Eventing Ireland rules (half in the hands of the sidelined Ella Boyle), she had amassed 29 British Eventing points over 2018 and 2019 when campaigned by Sara Squires. The bay is due to start in the CCI2*-S at Ballindenisk next week while Saturday’s runner-up, the Clare Abbott-ridden Mr Mighty (24.8), is among the entries for the CCI2*-L.

Jonny Mulligan was delighted with the third-place finish of the Tyrella (2) EI100 winner Western Johnny who, on his debut at this level, had a pole down show jumping for a total of 28.8. Five riders were not so pleased to be eliminated while five others had run-outs across the country. Most problems occurred at fence four abc, The Coffin.

On a day of very mixed weather, a two-minute silence was observed before the start of cross-country as a mark of respect to Britain’s Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died the previous day.