Eisfee shines for Shanahan

LOCAL rider Susan Shanahan and her mother Linda’s Eisfee, who represented Ireland at the European Junior championships in Sweden in August, made a winning re-appearance here in the Kiltinan Castle Stud EI110 (J).

This was a fourth success of the season for Shanahan and the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare who completed on their winning dressage score of 30 penalties.

Their European teammates, Tom Rowlatt-McCormick and Mon Ami Alme, winners in the meantime of the EI110 (J) national championship, also finished on their first phase score (31.3) for second.

In a duel for honours in the Coolmore EI110 (P), Tom Nestor came out on top with the 16-year-old Freddie while Co Carlow’s Gilby Monaghan recorded a first Eventing Ireland success when landing the 15-runner Bedmax Shavings UK EI110 (P) on the Connemara mare Longwood Laura, a seven-year-old grey by I Love You Melody.

There were 23 starters in the J.F. O’Sullivan Pharmacy EI100 (J) but one runaway winner in Howth’s Amy Ennis Crosbie with her father Alan’s six-year-old bay gelding Limestone Spartacus who completed on their winning first phase score of 25.5.

This was a much improved performance on the combination’s previous form as they recorded their first double clear on their eighth outing. Amy is a niece of leading riders Sarah and Nicola Ennis.

There was an all-the-way success also in the 16-runner Black Rainbow EI90 (P) where, on their third EI start, Wexford Pony Club member Lily Horgan and her father Brian’s Connemara mare, Castlemir Queen, claimed the honours although adding 1.2 cross-country time penalties to their dressage mark of 28.5 (see picture on page 105).