THE Northern Region of Eventing Ireland staged its first event of the season last Saturday at Tullylish, 19 weeks later than originally scheduled and seven days after heavy rain had scuppered plans to open proceedings at the Stevenson family’s Gilford venue the previous weekend.

There was more rain last Friday night but, thankfully, the land drained well on this occasion and those who attended the event, having first been strictly checked in against the arrivals’ list, were greeted by lush green fields and beautifully-presented fences. The heavens opened again shortly after the final combination came through the cross-country finish.

The show jumping phase, for which every combination had a start time, took place on undulating ground in the walled garden where the Aaron McCusker-designed track caused plenty of problems. There was a problem too for the scorers who, through a technical glitch, were unable to upload the results en bloc to the EI website although individuals’ scores were getting through.

There had been an entry of 160 the previous week but that number dropped to 120 on Saturday as some riders, who were entered elsewhere and therefore had already paid out an entry fee, chose to stick with their original plan. The Smith Brothers and team, who had entries both at Tullylish and the new EI venue of Blackstairs, Co Wexford, decided to support their local track and neighbours.

They had one win through Sarah O’Shea on Youngstars Cheetah in the EI100 (J) but Trevor Smith had to settle for the runner-up slot twice while his brother, Steven, filled the same position in the EI110 (Open) where he completed on his dressage score with the Frankfort Stud winner, Handsome Starr (32 penalties).

Topping the final leaderboard in this eight-runner class was Newtownards-based Janie Cairns whose total of 29.8 on Premier Charlie included two time penalties. The seven-year-old Touchdown gelding, who had finished fourth on his seasonal debut at Kilguilkey House last month, was bred by Dominic Rice out of the point-to-point-placed Oscar mare, Councellor Cath.

Stubington victory

Eleven of the 17 starters in the EI110 jumped clear over the Adam Stevenson-designed cross-country course but none managed to beat the clock.

Adding four time penalties on the final leg to her dressage score, Lucca Stubington came out on top here with Xanthe Green (28.5). The seven-year-old Sir Shutterfly mare, who was reserve in the EI100 National Championship last September, was home-bred by the rider’s mother, Georgia, and grandmother, Patricia MacKean, out of Daisy M, an Arc Bright half-sister to the Cajetano mare, Kiltoom (CSI5*).

With 2.4 cross-country time penalties, Trevor Smith finished second on the six-year-old Ringfort Cruise gelding Mike Of Mourne (28.9) while, riding another 2014 Ringfort Cruise gelding, Mr Diceman (24), who has having just his second start, Smith also filled the runner-up spot in the 29-runner EI100.

Here the all-the-way winner was Richhill’s Matthew Johnston’s with his mother Lesley’s home-bred Diamond Debut (22.7), a Renkum Valentino gelding who is out of the Flagmount Diamond mare, Amber Glow. Diamond Debut is due to start at Novice level today at Finvoy.

Tullymurry-based David O’Connor had three rides in the EI90 where he filled the top two placings on eventing newcomer Sir Barnabus (24.5), an 11-year-old Cyrano gelding, and the eight-year-old piebald gelding Nakuti (31.3).

Making her EI debut, pony rider Anya Teuton finished third here on Painted Cavalier (32.5) while, with the addition of six cross-country time penalties in this 24-strong class, Clare Abbott was fourth on the newcomer Arthalent, a five-year-old Valent gelding home-bred by the rider’s mother, and Northern Region chairman, Catherine, out of the Nigrasine mare Timpany Night (CIC2*).