FOLLOWING the disappointing cancellation of the new event fixture at Castle Irvine, all roads led to Ballindenisk last weekend. Despite the appalling weather, which prompted Peter Fell to comment that it was one of the wettest weekends seen at the venue for many years, the two-day meeting ran to plan. Fell did count his blessings however, to have the new sand arena up and running for the show jumping, while the dressage was staged on good ground near to the stables.

Mindful of the elements, Fell had built the cross-country tracks on the drier north side of the farm, although, erring on the side of caution, he did have to take out a few fences on Sunday.

Among those to successfully re-route from Castle Irvine was the EI120 (Advanced) winner Clare Abbott, together with the seasonal first-timer Jewelent. While it had not been the original plan to kick off the year over an advanced track, Abbott had no fears of running. “I knew that Ballindenisk is a really horse-friendly track, which is why I didn’t mind going straight here without a warm-up run. Frankie is a total master across country and really knows his job,” she said.

Indeed, the nine-year-old competently led the high-class field from the front, before drawing away to win by a margin of eight marks. The Millstreet CCI4*-S is next on the agenda for this talented individual who, owned by Lisa and Barbara Rosbotham, and bred by their father Woods, is by the KWPN-registered Valent, out of the thoroughbred dam Bellaney Jewel.

From a good family, he is a full-sister to the highly rated mare Cooley Rosalent (Oliver Townend) who won a silver medal at Le Lion d’Angers last October.

Abbott was one of two riders to complete on their opening scores, with the other being second placed Joseph Murphy and Gorsehill Pearl. Murphy also slotted into third with his Olympic listed Cesar V, from Cathal Damiels who enjoyed a good pipe-opening run with Rioghan Rua. All 13 runners completed without incident, with both the show jumping penalties and time faults juggling the remaining order.

Local rider Michael Ryan has been on storming form in recent weeks, and he will have been especially pleased to land the EI115 (Open) with Tom and Carol Henry’s TR Kaygraff. Enjoying a perfect prep run for the Millstreet CCI4*-L feature, and one of just three starters to retain their dressage mark, the duo was promoted from an initial fifth spot.

Marginally slower Louise Bloomer aboard Shannondale Icarus slipped to second, and with less than a point separating the top four, it was Gerald Bloomer who filled third (DLS Entertainer) from Sarah Ennis with Grantstown Jackson.

In the wet conditions, the time in the country proved very influential, as a raft of other well-placed contenders clocked up time penalties.

The Michael Ryan domination continued in the first of two restricted sectors, in which he rode the similarly owned The Caped Crusader. As dressage marks proved influential, the Nazar-sired chesnut led from flag fall, to remain ahead of Edie Murray-Haydon with the consistent Sandyhill Ceol, as well as Adam Haugh (Ballybolger Lionman).

The result in the second sector was not quite so clear cut. Having led the field on the flat, Paul Donovan (Enniscrone Rollar Boy) picked up time penalties to drop to fourth, leaving the top spot to Ian Cassells and Gorsehill Amy.

The winner who, bred by Anne Bannon is a sibling to several graded horses, is by Chippison out of Gorsehill Magic (Master Imp). Chasing all the way, Stephanie Stammschroer picked up a good second placing with the Remington Clover-sired Brownstown Remi, from Michael Ryan again with Clara Olala.

Sarah Ennis had mixed fortunes in the EI110 (Open) and while she will have kicked herself for jumping the wrong fence with the well placed Lisanley, she was compensated when Suzanne Macken’s home-bred Action Lady M, by Plot Blue, claimed the red ribbon. The pair recorded the fastest time of the class to forge ahead of Gillian Beale-King (RCA Royal Summer) as well as Adam Haugh with Ella Boyle’s dressage leader Grafenstolz Distinction.

In a day of doubles, Michael McNally continued his winning form to land the two divisions of the restricted EI110. Equally notable was that he partnered thoroughbreds in both, the first of which was the seven-year-old Port Sunshine.

Demonstrating his cruising speed across the country and in a class where the time penalties were hefty and significant, the former point-to-pointer/hurdler by Urban Poet moved up from an opening fifth spot. A winner at Frankfort earlier in the season, he eventually completed three marks ahead of Alice Copithorne (Fairytale) as well as Katie O’Sulllivan (Cooley Rules).

In the second sector, it was the turn of the Trish Hyde and Carol Swan-owned Clonakilty Bay to shine. The seven-year-old son of Masterofthehorse (Ire), ran in a few bumpers 18 months ago, and has now clocked up his second win under EI rules.

A speedy Nicola Ennis put her foot down to fill second with Killossery Kitten from Michael O’Toole aboard dressage leader Icco.