Shannondale Icarus delivers impressively for Bloomer

ANOTHER full day’s competition took place on Sunday, with classes ranging from EI115 to junior, pony and EI100 levels and all filled to capacity.

Following the same pattern, the professional riders landed most of the spoils, and among them was the EI115 victor Louise Bloomer. Teaming up with Jinnie Webb’s consistent Shannondale Icarus, and bettering their runner-up spot at Lisgarvan seven days earlier, the Co Wicklow pair comfortably led from flagfall, to head Lexi Kilfeather (Lord of The Morning) and Stephen Smith with Newferry Jagermeister.

Ian Cassells is another rider who appears to have done a lot of work in the lockdown, and with his homework paying off, he filled the top two placings in a competitive EI110. Scoring the sole sub 30 dressage mark, he took the red ribbon with Bridget McGing’s home-bred Master Point (Pointilliste) from stablemate Kelly’s Quality.

The former was the national five-year-old champion two years ago, while the latter by OBOS Quality out of a Supreme Leader dam, is new to the sport this year having been show jumped by Damien Griffin. Paul Donovan slotted into third with Sportsfield Lux Impressive.

Since joining the Global Event Horse team last year, the Welsh-born Lucy Morgan has racked up a string of successes. On Sunday, she partnered Henk Offerein’s Castle Bridge Boy to lead the 33-strong field on her opening score of 24.0. Michael Ryan filled second with Tom and Carol Henry’s Beyond The Mist, leaving Gerald Bloomer in third aboard Herald of Milltown.

Bloomer will also have been delighted to see his former international partner Calliaghstown Flight enjoying life in the junior ranks. Ridden by India Rogers, the popular gelding finished as runner-up in the EI110 (J) to Clodie Coen with her winning ride Ballinglen Susie’s Master.

A further range of under age classes delivered wins to Susan Shanahan who headed the EI110 (P) with Fernhill Mix and Match, and also to Jasper Kelly, who having gelled well with the 2019 European championship pony Fiona’s Fionn, landed the EI100 (P).

Finally, and bringing a excellent day to a close, Sarah Fitzpatrick picked up her first EI win under rules when winning the EI100 (J) with her Irish Draught Ria Carraclover.