Sally Parkyn

ONE rider to turn his first visit to the venue into a winning one was the O/CNC** victor Luke Drea.

Partnering Anne Bannon’s Gorsehill Pearl, for whom this was a seasonal debut, Drea pulled up from third place after dressage before producing one of only three show-jumping clears. “I really loved the track,” said Drea afterwards. “It was flowing, and included a very good galloping loop, which is rare to see in a national one-day.”

As the winner of 160 EI points to date, the home-bred daughter of Hermes de Reve is an experienced performer, but due to an ongoing breeding programme has been lightly campaigned this season.

“She has had embryos taken from her this spring, so although we have done plenty of show jumping, she has not been fully fit,” explained the rider. “We will kick on from here however and will probably run in the three-star at Kilguilkey and the CIC*** in Millstreet.”

Retaining their initial second spot was the local pairing of Rebecca Hayes and The Artful Bobster. Despite lowering a coloured rail, the duo edged ahead of dressage leader Alex Houston, who lost her early advantage in the final phase. Riding the much admired mare Skyfall Echo, Houston also tipped a pole, but added a further four penalties for time.

It was a costly error for the former young rider team member, who had travelled six hours from her base in Portrush, and had stabled overnight at the venue. “She was going so smoothly, and I didn’t want to move her out of her rhythm,” she explained.

Out in the country, regulars at Crecora were glad to see a major change to the tricky Billy’s Boreen complex on the homeward run. Formerly a bank exited by an angled skinny, the new edition was simplified to a single element, but one of narrow dimensions followed by an imposing drop. Although it jumped well for the majority, pathfinders Oinri Jackson and Sallymount du Cruise were the first to miss their line here, while Jim Newsam needed a second attempt with Kilcooley Michael. As the only other to err, Olivia Holohan (Boolagh Crescendo) enjoyed a smooth passage through this question, but had clocked up an earlier 20 penalties at the influential tree trunk combination (7).

Several new partnerships impressed during the day, including the O/CNC* winners Clare Lambert and David Lee’s thoroughbred mare Whitmores Way. The former James O’Haire-ridden mare moved to Lambert about six weeks ago, and having filled second spot on the flat, progressed to record the sole double clear of the class. “She’s pretty amazing,” declared the Co Wexford rider.

”I think she’s really special and is going to be brilliant. It’s all just starting to come together and she was like riding butter today in all three phases.”

Plans to move up to two-star are imminent, as is a possible outing at Millstreet. Two time penalties in the show jumping cost second-placed Shane Power and TLB Interactive pole position, while the Lizzie Schofield-ridden Ringfort Tinkarula was promoted to third.

Having just been selected for Ireland’s young rider squad, Kelley Hutchinson capped a good week by heading a competitive CNC* from the front. Riding the French -bred Rainbow de Riverland, Hutchinson impressed to score 20.5 from dressage judge Terri Cairns, and followed with two classy jumping performances. A recent acquisition, and sourced in France by Hutchinson’s father Oli, the eye-catching 10-year-old is by Kannan out of the Selle Francais dam Histoire du Vallon. “He had been show jumping, but knew very little about flat work and used to keep popping into canter,” said the rider. “We now have him in a Micklem bridle which he loves. This is only his third event with me (second at the level) and he’s one that I’m going to try to hold on to.”

Chasing Hutchinson throughout, but nearly nine marks adrift was Ann O’Grady riding Ballingowan Gemma. The home-bred mare by Ringwood Harley Carol also kept a clean sheet (29.0), as did third-placed Camilla Speirs aboard Rory Costigan’s promising Loughnavatta Cedar (29.3).

Carrying a strong balance of jumping influence, nearly a third of the 35 runners added penalties to their first phase scores, while three were eliminated.

Nine clocked up individual errors in the country, with the bulk of these occurring at the accuracy demanding tree trunk to skinny brush complex at seven.