THE Northern Region of Eventing Ireland staged its first EI80 class last Saturday at Tullymurry (2) where, having attracted over 50 entries, the decision was taken to divide it.

Surprisingly, there were some well-experienced riders among those entered but, as so many were new to Eventing Ireland competition, it was decided to hold a ‘rider briefing’ early in the afternoon when first-timers would be advised of the protocol and main rules of the cross-country phase of the sport. A very good idea, if everyone pays attention.

Section A was won by one of the day’s newcomers, Ralph Robinson, who completed on his dressage score of 30.8 penalties with Powder Day who had been campaigned over the past two seasons by Anita Doherty. The latter rode in the class herself and led after the flat work phase on the EI debutant, Samphire (29.3), a six-year-old mare by Loughehoe Guy. However, this combination dropped to seventh when picking up four show jumping penalties and 4.8 for time across the country.

While Powder Day ran in Doherty’s name on Saturday, in future his owner will be listed as Robinson’s mother Ali who was delighted with the competition and result. “Ralph started riding about three years ago and competed on a skewbald cob called Ballyrainey Jack,” Ali revealed. “He is a member of the North Down Branch of The Pony Club and after competing in the Home Championships at Maddybenny last August, all he could think about was eventing.

“We then set out to get a more suitable mount and were delighted when we got ‘Perkins’ from Anita who, along with her husband Tom, has been a huge help to Ralph all season – she is really encouraging. We keep Perkins at Gransha Equestrian Centre with Adrienne Stuart, who gets on really well with Ralph as does her daughter Courtney who got Ralph involved with Northern Ireland Youth Dressage over the winter months.

“I am delighted that things went so well on Saturday. Ralph trained very hard during the winter and started the year competing in the Flexi Eventing league at The Meadows and did the Junior 80cms two-phase event at Tyrella. I was really pleased to learn that they were having an 80cms competition at Tullymurry as it was the perfect way for Ralph to start competing with Eventing Ireland. With that confidence-builder under his belt, he hopes to compete in three more events and perhaps upgrade before the end of the season.”

Connemara stallion

Fourteen-year-old Robinson, who lives in Comber, also has an interest in rugby and plays for his school, Campbell College, Belfast. The eight-year-old Powder Day, who is by the Connemara stallion Lough George Prince, was bred in Co Donegal by Edward Vaughan.

Claire Ireland, who finished sixth in Section A on EI newcomer Technicolour Dream (38 penalties), won Section B with another EI debutant Mission Ambition, a 14-year-old palomino gelding. Their path to victory took a couple of twists as they held a very comfortable lead after dressage (28) but dropped to fourth with 12 show jumping penalties.

However, Ireland then put in a very fast clear round across the country to top the leaderboard ahead of Alison Crothers with the EI newcomer TMS Freya (47.3), a five-year-old mare by OBOS Quality 004, and Kiara Malcolmson on the year younger Zapatero gelding OSH Atero (47.8), another who was making his debut.

Four riders were eliminated in Section A, one for a fall show jumping and one for a similar incident early on the cross-country course where two riders received the big ‘E’ for an error of course. In Section B, where again one rider had a fall show jumping, there were nine eliminations during the final phase – one for a fall, one for an error of course and the remainder for three refusals.