South Leinster Region EI110

MARES ruled the roost in the higher graded classes at the Eventing Ireland National Championships held last weekend at Kilguilkey House with the Indoctro six-year-old Hush A Bye Baby seeing off 33 rivals to claim the South Leinster Region EI110 crown under locally-based Sian Coleman.

“We’re just five minutes away and could hear the commentary once the cross-country started,” said Coleman who completed on her dressage score (29 penalties). “This mare is owned by her breeder, Kate Jarvey, and I’ve been riding her since she was four. She’s in contention for Le Lion but, if not selected [she wasn’t], she’ll finish off her season in the two-star long at Ballindenisk.

“She is out of Kate’s Rock King mare Rock Me Baby who breeds real scopey types such as Austin O’Connor’s four-star ride Colorado Blue (by Jaguar Mail) and Ludwig Svennerstal’s Balham Mist (by Mill Law). Austin also has the mare’s four-year-old Newmarket Venture. This is a lovely mare with a super jump,” concluded Coleman who also won the EI90 Championship on Ivanhoe.

Topping the dressage scores following the judging of Britain’s Gwyneth Lewis (C) and Ireland’s Dermot Cannon (E) was the Daniel Alderson-ridden Derena Super Star (27.4) but he slipped to eventual third with a pole down show jumping.

The reserve Champion was the Patricia Ryan-partnered Ballyengland Crafty who, with 0.4 of a show jumping time penalty, had a three-phase total of 30.3.

The show jumping phase caused a few problems at this level but there were less on the cross-country leg with just two horses failing to complete while three others all picked up jumping penalties at fence 10ab, the Equireel offset brushes.