THE 2019 Eventing Ireland season concluded on Sunday at this year’s new venue of Hillcrest where Beth and Rodney O’Donnell welcomed Eventing Ireland to their Co Limerick equestrian centre for the second time.

There was a small entry of just 98 (of which seven were absentees on the day) with the date not suiting many people, while the weather during the week had others worried that the event might go not ahead. The landowners, however, were always confident that it would, although they did take the precaution of bringing in all their cross-country fence flags and decorations in case the storm struck.

“We knew we were running very late but were still disappointed with the entry,” said cross-country course designer and builder, Rodney O’Donnell. “The weather running up to the day didn’t help but, on Saturday morning, the going was still quite firm. However, it then drizzled all day and that got into the ground.

“The jumping took place on sand so that was fine and the ground held up quite well on the cross-country course although we did have sand in front of some of the fences. The worst place was the practice ring and we put sand there as needed.

“We changed the direction of the cross-country, with a new start, and, from the feedback we got, it seemed to ride better that way. We are looking ahead to next year when we hope to run three or four events and are already planning to upgrade to a 1.05m track,” concluded O’Donnell.

All 11 entries started in the EI110 class and all jumped clear across the country. The Jimmy Quinn-designed show jumping track had more of an influence on the result with the Liam Maloney-judged dressage winners (26.3 penalties), Paul Donovan and Sportsfield Lux Impressive, dropping to second with a fence down in this phase.

Although he picked up 0.8 of a time penalty on the final leg, Alex Power moved up a place to win with the consistent Lord Seekonig who was recording his first success at this level. Described as a “very scopey and trainable horse,” the German-bred six-year-old gelding, who is by the four-star show jumping stallion Lord Fauntleroy out of the Hanoverian mare Seekonigin (by Sellhorn), was purchased by the Powers from the same yard where they found Lakantus.

Power, who is a second year Business and Law student at Maynooth, is hoping to compete with Lord Seekonig in the CCI2*-L at Bicton in Devon later this month. Early next week however, he and elder brother Shane are consigning three yearlings to Tattersalls Newmarket.

Rewarding journey

Lucca Stubington, who finished fifth in that class with Xanthe Green (31.5) was rewarded for her journey down from Co Antrim when landing the three-runner EI110 (Open) on her mother Georgia’s unraced thoroughbred Quingenti.

The nine-year-old September Storm gelding, who had a fence down show jumping for a total of 35.3 penalties, is another being aimed at the CCI2*-L at Bicton where Xanthe Green will compete in one of the novice classes.

“We went down to Hillcrest on Saturday and stayed there overnight,” revealed Lucca. “I thought the cross-country track was really good, especially for Xanthe Green who was competing in just her second novice. Quingenti has plenty of experience so he found it a lot easier. I think this will be a very nice event once it gets going.”

Ava Banahan, who spent much of the season side-lined through injury, landed the EI100 (J) on her mother Mari’s German-bred gelding Calvin II (29.8) with Zara Nelson, filling the runner-up slot on OLS Pixie Hollow (30.3). The pair, who were first and second throughout, completed on their flat work marks.

Calvin II was campaigned from 2016 to 2018 by Britain’s Georgie Spence with the Banahans buying him at the end of last season. When based in England with Austin O’Connor, Ava competed the nine-year-old Christoph Columbus gelding in four events with O’Connor taking over the ride from late April until early August as Banahan recovered from her injury. Sunday marked their third start under EI rules.

Sarah Moore was another rewarded for her journey down to Co Limerick as, after a very consistent season, the Moira, Co Down rider recorded her first EI success in the EI110 (P) on her mother Lorna’s Kilgarvin Morning Misty, a seven-year-old grey mare on whom, having led after dressage (29.3), she picked up two cross-country time penalties.