ANOTHER new partnership to impress first time out was that of Lucy Hancock and Goldman. The former Camilla Speirs-winning two-star ride changed hands last month, and Hancock looks to have gelled well with the thoroughbred, who is a half-brother to the recent British Open winner Arctic Soul. The Borris-based rider opted to kick off her campaign in EI100J company, and having impressed dressage judge Paula Geiger, she won on her opening mark of 28.0.

Chasing all the way however, and completing less than a mark in arrears, were pony rider Sophie Foyle with Hazy Days (28.3), and third-placed Cameron Kiernan Jnr (Fernhill Nearly Darc).

The versatile Lord Barnaby Rhodes added a first event victory to his CV when he headed the first of two well-filled EI100 sectors. Ridden by Fergal Nesbit and bred by Breda Quigley, the son of Barnaby Flight opened on a competitive score of 31.3, and forged ahead after producing two foot-perfect rounds. Only a five-year-old, Judy Pearson’s grey has already enjoyed many successes in the show ring, as well as in the Stepping Stones and young Event Horse leagues.

“The course was quite testing, but this time of year it’s quite nice to be tested!” said Nesbit. “He’s a thoroughly nice all-rounder, and the plan is to run him in the remainder of the HSI age series.”

Also delivering a smooth double clear, Jamie Nolan edged up to fill second with Ballycorman Graaf (32.8), reversing placings with Felicity Ward who picked up a costly 1.6 time penalties with Castle Arkan. The leaderboard first changed shape when dressage leaders Tracey Walsh and Poynstown Stonehaven added 8.4 penalties in the country. As Mark Hogan of River Lodge Eventing explained however, the duo are heading over to Burghley for the young horse championships next week, and were using this run just for a warm-up.

The track was quite a test for some of the younger campaigners, but most coped well, and just one failed to complete.

MORRISON DOUBLE

Brian Morrison racked up a smart Kilguilkey double when he headed the second division with the exciting EI debutante Global Showtime. Bearing the prefix of Morrison’s new venture (together with Christopher Hunt), the Ulano-sired seven-year-old was sourced in England earlier in the summer.

“We saw him on a video at first, and on seeing him liked him immediately,” explained Morrison. “He had done a little bit of show jumping in England, and I think a lot of him – he’s a real weapon of a horse.”

Sharing the same mark of 27.5 but further from the optimum time, Fraser Duffy held second with fellow first-timer Fernhill Premier, from Barbara Allen aboard Lissavoora Chaccoa (28.3). As in the first group, faults were spread around the track, and just one failed to complete.

Local rider Felicity Ward has a raft of young horses to compete, so she was especially delighted to fill the top three placings in the EI90. Not only was that quite a feat in itself, but, capping it, Ward piloted all three four-year-olds to deliver the only three double clear rounds. Heading the trio on his opening score (25.0) was the traditionally bred EPA Murray, a four-year-old gelding by the Irish Draught stallion Luke Skywalker out of Doheny Lass (Big Sink Hope).

The big grey was bred by Alan Duggan, and now runs under the EPA prefix of owners Elizabeth and Pat Aherne. It has been a busy week or so for the slowly produced youngster, who was placed sixth in the lightweight class at the RDS just 10 days earlier.

Less than a mark adrift was the Loughehoe Guy sired four-year-old Blarney Acacia, who Ward has produced for owner/breeders Caroline Myers and Charles Colthurst. Another traditionally bred prospect, this mare is out of Moyglass Coleen by Coille Mor Hill.

Completing the line up was Ian Smyth’s home-bred The Ridge Cardento, a four-year-old by Cardento out of Temple Cavalier (Temple Clover).

“I was so pleased with all of them,” said Ward. “There were plenty of questions out there, and the roll top to ditch at the third was quite a test.”

Indeed, this tricky combination needed a second look for four of the eight horses who clocked up penalties, while the first fence, which traversed the driveway was also influential and accounted for two.

A stop at the third fence also proved costly for EIP90 pony combination of Ruby Hughes and Knockavalley Aine. Having led the four runners from the start, they slipped to third, and opened the door for Brian Kuehnle to win aboard the clean-jumping Tullibards Sixth Sense AC, from Emma O’Callaghan with Crininish Mist.