ON the same day that he learned that his Badminton wait list entry had been confirmed as a definite, Dominic Furnell enjoyed a further boost when he claimed a strong CNC1* with the Terry Cairns-bred Knockahunna French Twist. The son of French Buffet was well in touch on the flat (30.3), and while none of the field of 38 achieved the time allowed in the country, his final score 35.9 was good enough to turn the tables on Sarah Dowley with Shannondale Dita, and also Sarah Ennis with the lovely thoroughbred Alshmemi.

One of the notable features of the season so far, has been the quality of runners in the expanding CNCJ* classes. The Lisgarvan contest was no exception, and with the results going right to the wire, honours fell to Rebecca Coonan and Jantar. In third place on the flat, the clean-jumping duo gained ground in the country, marginally bettering Stephanie Stammschroer with her squad horse Tullabeg Horizon, and Maresa Ronan with the consistent Super Jumbo. There were numerous eye-catching performances, and selectors will have no easy task when comes to making decisions.

This embarrassment of riches extended to the CNCP2* sector, in which 15 high-class ponies went to post. Ava Banahan and Rathlaneen Dark Secret impressed flatwork judge John Lyttle to lead the field on 44.3, but sadly an omission of a fence in the country dropped them out of contention. It’s an ill wind that blows no good however, and benefitting to win the class was Isabelle Comerford riding Colour Me Fancy. The duo did tip a pole, but their overall performance was still good enough to pip the Carol Gee-owned pairing of Little Miss Fernhill (Sophie Foyle) and Jenny Kuehnle riding her Ballindenisk winner Fernhill Timbacktoo.

Newtown Westie has been a stalwart of Irish pony teams in recent years, so it was good to see him heading the EI100P with yet another young rider in the saddle. Now partnered by Sadhbh Peelo Stassin, the veteran Connemara completed on his dressage score (31.0) to defeat a busy Isabelle Comerford (Langtons Choice) as well as Chloe Fagan with Wilderwood Storm. While all three completed on their first phase scores, impressive dressage leaders Ruth Burke (Hunters Firefly) unfortunately slipped down the order after errors in the country.

Moving on to the EI100 classes, former pony rider Emily McQuade racked up her first success in the junior ranks when she scored aboard Michael McNally’s good-moving For Dante. Dropping down a level this weekend, the pair made little of the jumping phases, to win from the front on 31.3. Isabelle Persse also enjoyed a trouble free spin to fill second with DBS Houdini (34.3), as did third placed Katherine Bailey with Knocklong Jack (35).

WIN ON THE BOARD

Tracey Walsh has just returned from a highly successful show jumping tour in Portugal, and wasted no time in recording her first event win of the year aboard event debutante Newtown Boy. Carol Gee’s former pony show jumper was handily poised in second place after dressage, and was only promoted after leader Janie Cairns (Limoncello) was unfortunately deemed to have omitted a fence in the country. As the top six completed on their first phase scores, Alyssa O’Neill filled second with Monsieur Jacques, from Lucy Latta with the Connemara cross thoroughbred youngster Kuriheka Gortglas.

In the second division, Felicity Ward commenced the new season as she finished the last when taking the spoils with the six-year-old Shanagore Jenga. Clocking up their seventh win together, the duo led from the outset, to lead Ella Boyle (Killadeas) and Sarah Ennis with Hacklin Moxo.

Now competing from her home base in Co Cork, Ward went on to win the EI90 with her own Saywhatinao Bay. Less than five marks separated the top eight, but the athletic former point-to-pointer by Millenary looks very classy and should find no problems when he upgrades. He was a trifle lucky to win however, as clear dressage leader Caroline Lynch (Lisheenabrone Smoothstepper) had a blank moment when galloping past the fourth fence and retracing her steps for twenty penalties. Marie Bagland filled second with the Ars Vivendi-sired mare Summer Songs of Kalevara, from Patrick Whelan (Dennistown Don Juan).

Finally, Chloe Fagan turned a debut ride into a winning one when she landed the EI90P with Hans Kuehnle’s Tullibards Brocca Done Thing. In a close contest, Fagan just added a fraction of a time fault to her dressage score, which was good enough to hold off the challenge from second-placed Lilly Keogh (Kilcoltrim Swift) and Julie Hatton with Douglas.