THE final leg of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook young horse series for 2021 was held last Sunday at Tattersalls as the famed Co Meath venue returned to the Eventing Ireland schedule following a year’s absence due to Covid-19.

Driving by Tattersalls over the past year, it had been sad to see how quickly the international courses had been threatened by nature’s return but course-designer Eugene O’Neill and his team had them in top order for Sunday with roping and crossing points in place. As all fences (the majority of which were well-received by riders) were numbered and flagged in advance, there was no delay between classes.

In keeping with the strong cross-country courses, riders also had to deal with Raymond Jess’s challenging show jumping tracks. With such large numbers competing, it would be far better for riders – and stewards – if times were given for the show jumping phase. There could have been no complaints about the ground.

Tattersalls Ireland’s Chief Executive Officer, Simon Kerins, was among those spotted walking the cross-country course and hopefully he was aware how highly the venue is regarded by owners and riders. Hopefully too, he noticed how many thoroughbreds were competing with the joint EI100 (J) winner, Road To Emmaus, an unraced Sir Prancealot gelding, having been sold at Tattersalls in Newmarket as a yearling.

First Obama went into the final leg of the seven and eight-year-old league on 16 points but, with a win on Sunday, the 2013 Dirado gelding claimed the title on 26 points for his Co Wicklow veterinary surgeon owner/rider, Michael O’Toole. The absent seven-year-old Ringfort Cruise gelding Mike Of Mourne (Steven Smith) finished second on 22.

First Obama, who won a leg of this series at Crecora (2), was bred in Co Clare by Michael Kelly out of the Rich Rebel mare Ruskey Lady. He won on Sunday on a total of 31 penalties while the Joseph Murphy-ridden Derroon Diplomat finished second on 35.3.

Although 38 six-year-olds started in one or more legs of their Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored league, only half a dozen lined-out at Tattersalls.

Lying second at the start of the day on 16 points, and well in with a chance of lifting the title in the absence of the league leader R Showman (20), Killossery Kitten, ridden by Nicola Ennis for owner/breeders Frank and Laura Glynn, failed to improve her position when having two fences down show jumping and a time-consuming stop across the country.

The Jonny Steele-owned and ridden R Showman, a brown gelded son of Centre Stage, was bred by the rider’s wife Clare out of Boleybawn Saris (by OBOS Quality 004). He is competing in the CCIYH2*-S for six-year-olds at Millstreet this weekend.

Sunday’s final leg of the series was won by the locally based Sarah Ennis on Agnes Fabricius’s Dourough Ferro Class Act who added 3.2 cross-country time penalties to his winning dressage score of 23.3. The bay S Creevagh Ferro gelding is also out of an OBOS Quality 004 mare, in this case, ISHD Class Act.

The Co Waterford-based MBF Sport Horses yard of Meabh Bolger and Brian Flynn had a phenomenal weekend.

Bolger rode their MBF Celtic Claddagh to victory in the Mo Chroi four-year-old national championship in the Main Arena at the RDS on Saturday before landing the 21-strong ISH five-year-old class here with the very consistent MBF Back To Back who completed on his dressage score (27.3).

The Metropole gelding, who was bred in Co Wexford by Liam Duffin out of the Iroko mare Annaghmore Irokos Dream (a half-sister to the top intermediate working hunter pony turned young riders’ show jumper Country Strong (by Mermus R)) thus claimed the league on 26 points.

The Sarah Ennis-ridden grey Tullabeg Fusion gelding Diamond Fusion, who led after dressage on Sunday (26.8) but had a fence down show jumping to drop to third, finished the league on 16 points as did the Jim Newsam-partnered Sligo Candy Boy gelding MMG Candy Du Carel who filled the runner-up slot on Sunday on his first phase score (29.8).

Only nine combinations in total took part in the five and six-year-old pony league with just two starting on Sunday. The easy winner of the league on 22 points, in the absence of the Jessica Kuehnle-ridden Laheen’s Magic (14), was the Hazel Barden-ridden Paddy Jo who landed Sunday’s class on his dressage score (30 penalties).

The 2016 Connemara gelding by Martan Phaidin Mhoir was bred by Declan Connick out of the Streamstown Mickey mare, Ballyvary Mist.

Win for Calmaro

With the fastest round over the fixed fences, Joseph Murphy comfortably claimed Sunday’s 10-runner EI115 (Open) on his own and Claire and Charlie Mayne’s 10-year-old Carpalano gelding Calmaro (29.8). They had a pole down show jumping with no combination remaining unpenalised in that phase which took place after cross-country.

There were nine starters in the EI110 (Open) which was comprehensively won by Amanda Goldsbury on Nicola Roden’s 10-year-old Tinaranas Inspector gelding Fernhill Inspector. Their total of 35.3 included four show jumping penalties and two for time on the final leg.

Third fastest to finish second on 44.1 was Ballyneety Rocketman whose owner/rider, Sam Watson, partnered his wife Sparkles’s Chesterfield Willpower to victory in the 21-runner EI110.

Watson and the seven-year-old Puissance gelding completed on their dressage score (31.3) as did the second-placed pairing of Elizabeth Power on Calinka GVH Z (35), while 2.4 cross-country time penalties dropped Amanda Goldsbury down a place to third on the Connemara pony Tullaree Ruby Tuesday (35.7).

Watson had mixed luck in the split EI100. Although picking up 0.4 of a time penalty across the country, he won Section B on 14.9 with another 2014 Puissance gelding, his own Ballybolger Anchorman, but, on board the seven-year-old Grantstown Carisma (24.8), had to settle for second behind Elaine O’Connor and Helen Fletcher’s 12-year-old Cyrano gelding, Sir Barnabus (24.5).

On just his third start since returning to EI action, Declan Crowley won the 28-strong EI90 with his six-year-old Robin De La Maison mare, Rockfield Robin. Sunday’s amateur winners were Olivia Johns and her 10-year-old Cavalier Land gelding Lagans Peter (EI100) and Aoife Hanratty and her 10-year-old grey gelding Newtowns Silver Bobby (EI90) completing a hat-trick.