BANDON’s Patricia Ryan spearheaded a quartet of Irish event riders at the early season fixture at Barroca d’Alva, Portugal last weekend. Enjoying a perfect pipe-opener, Ryan and the experienced Dunrath Eclipse cruised around the feature CIC2* to fill fourth place behind the French victors Regis Prud’Hon and Kaiser Hob 4175.

Ryan’s dressage mark of 31.6 was always going to be competitive, and while the addition of 1.6 time penalties ultimately denied her the runner-up spot, it was an ideal warm-up for the long format three-star class this weekend.

Bringing more smiles to the Irish camp, and firing warning shots for the year ahead, Aoife Clark (Fernhill Adventure) and Michelle Kenny (Carlchen) sparkled on the flat to fill the top two placings after dressage.

Outperforming the remaining 28 runners, the duo posted outstanding scores of 25.5 and 28.1 and, although like Ryan they opted to take things easy in the country, they completed in seventh and 15th places respectively.

It appears that Clark can look forward to an exciting year with the impressive son of Newmarket Venture, while Kenny was really turning heads with the former Francis Whittington ride Carlchen. The River Lodge rider also produced a solid performance with the Olympic mare Aspe, as did Michael Ryan with the Badminton bound Dunlough Striker.

This was the first time that Irish riders had experienced the new FEI scoring system, which has removed the co-efficient in the dressage marking.

Reflecting, Michael Ryan commented: “It’s made a big difference. I think it’s a good change and will benefit horses that are better gallopers and jumpers.”

Although the weather in Barroca was not as clement as usual, it was a vast improvement to the conditions at home.

“Coming here has given us a head start,” added Ryan. “It allows us to get the qualifications and runs into the one-star horses, and at the same time it gives the experienced ones a good preparation for Badminton.”

Continuing the quest for clear rounds, Clark picked up a good sixth placing in the CIC* with smart seven-year-old Celus d’Ermac Z (30.9), while others to complete were Michael Ryan (Matisse and Sir Charlie Brown), Patricia Ryan (Drumloman Lad) and Michelle Kenny (RLE Nuans Volt). This weekend will provide an even better indication of form as riders contest the long format CCI*, CCI2* and CCI3* as well as the CIC3*.