THERE was a disappointing entry of just 35 for Wednesday’s third leg of the Stepping Stones to Success League at Wexford Equestrian where following withdrawals – plus one addition – only 32 horses/ponies started.

“It just so happened that some riders were planning on giving their horses a break after two weeks, while Sarah Ennis, who is one of the biggest supporters of the league, is among those competing at Belton,” commented Orla Roche who, along with husband Pat Peare, stages the series at their Tomhaggard venue.

“Hopefully, it will be back to normal, or better, next Wednesday which is TopSpec viewing day when all jumping rounds will be recorded and available to view online.”

Heidi Hamilton and Johan-Some had finished second to Ennis and Greenhall Granuaile in the first two legs of the TopSpec four-year-old League and the Wicklow rider made the most of Ennis’s absence to win by an eight-point margin from Daniel Alderson and Richard Ames’ unnamed Watermill Swatch gelding who completed on a score of 207.

Hamilton and her Dutch Warmblood gelding topped Anne Marie Dunphy’s judging of the dressage phase (54 points) and then did likewise in the Derby Arena where regular jumping judge, Ian Fearon, and guest assessor, Lt Col Brian MacSweeney, awarded the combination their top marks of 161.

The winner is by Lexicon (a son of Voltaire) out of the Rabiat Z mare Rolanda Z. The dam’s previous produce include the 1.45m jumper Zico VDM (by Indoctro) while she is a half-sister to the 1.60m performer Empire (by Emilion). Hamilton purchased Johan-Some, who was in England, without ever seeing him in the flesh.

“I saw a video of the horse online last October and liked what I saw. He was light on his feet, jumped for fun and, when he landed, just quietly went about his business. When I contacted the girl who was selling him, she said I would have to make my mind up fast as there was a lot of interest in the horse. As he was being sold vetted and with X-rays, I asked her to send the X-rays over to my vet and, as he was happy with them, I immediately bought the horse.

“He has done a little bit of registered jumping and finished runner-up at intro level in the mini one-day event at Barnadown. We’ll finish off the Stepping Stones series and then give him a bit of a break. I may event him at the end of the season or he may be aimed at show jumping’s Breeders’ Classic.”

Both Hamilton and Aoife Quigley, winner for the second time in the series of the Shires Equestrian Products five-year-old class with Kilcandra Vanessa, appreciated the progressive nature of the jumping courses designed by Dereck Hamilton.

“There’s always something different,” said Heidi, “and the gradients mean that horses have to learn to balance themselves. You won’t get away with anything out there.” This was agreed by veterinary surgeon/equine dentist Quigley who commented: “The course asks a few more questions each week and I have to say this is a lucky venue for me. I won here with Rehy DJ who is competing with a British young rider in the CIC** at Belton at the weekend.”

Quigley and her Orestus mare Kilcandra Vanessa, who was bred in Co Wicklow by Vincent Cousins out of Kilcandra Lily de Noche (by Orbis), were only lying fourth after dressage (47.5). However, they received the top marks (160) of the jumping judges and, in spite of a fence down, had enough in hand to see off the challenge of the Riyalan gelding Monatrea Billy The Kid (203) who was ridden by Correna Bowe for owner/breeder Mary Roch Perks.

CHA CHA CHA

Following two second-place finishes, artist Dale Adams won the Oulartleigh Equestrian pony class with her five-year-old Olympic Lux mare Cha Cha Cha.

Adams and her veterinary surgeon husband Gary have two show jumping-mad daughters so she spends quite a lot of time riding ponies. “I’d love to event or jump my own horses but decided to sell the last couple I’ve had as I just don’t have time any more to compete myself as the girls are so busy.

“I ride their ponies at home while they are in school and we like to make the ponies ourselves. I bought this mare as a three-year-old from Michael Condon and Mary Keogh after she had won the loose jumping at Ballinasloe. We just tricked around with her last season and Patrick Kavanagh from Craanford competed on her at a few registered shows towards the end of the year.

“Maisie (daughter) has jumped the mare a couple of time this year and will probably do some Pony Club events on her. I have to say, I have really enjoyed the Stepping Stones series and it’s great for someone like me who rides a lot of ponies to have something to aim at and ride competitively. I think this mare is an out-and-out eventer. She has a lot of presence, a great step, plenty of blood and is a super jumper.”

Cha Cha Cha, who was bred in Co Waterford by Vahe Bogossian, is out of the Kroongraaf mare Ballinamonapark Bella. She and Adams completed on 210.5 points on Wednesday as Killian Murphy and the first week’s winner, Cullintra Bonfire, finished on 208.5.

Linda Christie and Harbin looked as if a second League win was within their grasp as they took on the jumping phase of the Willie Mullins thoroughbred class. Unfortunately, the dressage winners (52.5) parted company at the water (Christie staying dry) and the honours went to the series newcomer, Ask Mammy.

The six-year-old Ask mare has been owned by rider Thomas Byrne since she was a foal and held a hunters’ certificate to point-to-point last season. However, the chesnut picked up a slight knock and with Byrne and partner Izzy Leadbitter heading to Australia for six months, she was given plenty of time to recover.

Wednesday was her first time in a dressage arena and the owner/rider was delighted with her performance, describing the chesnut, who was bred by Paul Hennessy out of a Polish Precedent mare, as “extremely brave”.