THERE were 29 starters in the EI100 class at Kircubbin last Saturday of whom three were ridden by Kilkeel’s Adam Haugh.

As with 13 others, the trio completed on their dressage scores with the five-year-old Van Gogh gelding Van Thee Man doubling up on his recent Maddybenny success on 30.3 while stable-companion Ballybolger Lionman was third on 31.5. The latter, a five-year-old by Loughehoe Guy, was bred by Sam Watson out of the Puissance mare Showthyme, a full-sister to Hoyo.

The Haugh pair were split by the six-year-old Dancing Queen (31.3). Although owned by Emily Corbett, the bay mare was ridden on Saturday by David O’Connor who reports that his wife Elaine is determined to return to action when she recovers from her badly broken leg.

It was a long time between wins for Cerys Howell and Essenar Luizza who scored on their debut in an EI90P class at Tyrella in early April 2016 and, following four intervening runs, doubled up on Saturday at EI100P level when completing on their flat work mark (38.3).

However, they have been busy on the show jumping scene with Essenar Luizza, who is an eight-year-old mare by Luidam, now up to Grade B. Alex Byrne led after dressage with Forest Lodge Rambler (31) but 12 show jumping penalties proved their undoing.

There was a third win on the day for the Smiths’ Gilford yard when Casey Webb completed on her dressage score in the 25-strong EI90 class with Steven’s Aprils Pacino Time (28.3).

The five-year-old mare by Pacino was bred in Co Tyrone by Gareth Douglas out of My April Delight who he show jumped in the early noughties, accumulating 40 SJI points.

Emily Corbett led after dressage here with Elpaso Rising Storm (26.3) but the six-year-old gelding had two stops across the country, one most annoyingly at the first fence, Hollies Chair.

On their second outing of the season, Alex Ogle and Minstrel Pathfinder recorded their first Eventing Ireland success by eight points when completing on their winning dressage score (25.5) in the EI90P class.

Seven of the 10 starters were pure-bred Connemaras including Minstrel Pathfinder, a 16-year-old gelding by Tynagh Miller.

The dun was bred in Co Clare by Frank Houlihan out of the Windy Day mare Ballincarra Helen.