HAVING given birth to her third child, daughter Abigail, in November, Ardeo Sport Horses’ Melanie Wrynn returned to Eventing Ireland action this spring with plenty of fire power.
The Co Wicklow competitor, who had a fall in one of the earlier classes at Lightsource BP Tyrella (2) on Saturday, happily concluded her trip north with victory in Section A of the EI100 on Lightening Master who, having his third start in as many weeks, completed on his joint-winning dressage score (28 penalties).
“He is without a doubt the best pony I’ve seen or sat on,” said Wrynn of the 10-year-old 148cms gelding who the rider and husband Neil sourced early last winter after he had spent much of his life in a riding school.
“He is so sweet and willing but has a serious technique and every week he just gets better. We hope we can find out about his breeding but this is a real medal-winner who just needs mileage. I’ll upgrade him after a couple more runs at EI100 level.
“It’s hard competing when you have three children under three and these 2.30am starts are not great for family life! However, Neil is brilliant as he stays at home to mind the children and the event secretaries have gone out of their way to give me the best times they can,” concluded the Horse Sport Ireland level 3 coach.
The Katie O’Sullivan-ridden Cooley Gangster shared the lead after dressage but dropped to fifth with a fence down show jumping.
The water at six caught out the two leaders after dressage in Section B leaving Suzanne Hagan to record a narrow victory on her first phase score (27 penalties) with Tax Break who has been brought along slowly over the past three seasons.
“It was lovely to get a win at our first outing of the campaign,” said the successful rider. “All my horses have been late starting as I had a fall hunting at the beginning of the year when I got a bit battered and broke three ribs. Tax Break is ready to move up to one-star which I hope to do at Tyrella (4).”
An eight-year-old Cobra half-brother to Electric Cruise, Tax Break is owned by financial advisor Kevin Munro, a long-time supporter of the Northern Region.
Tola Thompson and her mother Sandi’s 13-year-old Catherston Gold Storm gelding Crackerjack VIII showed their liking for Tyrella when comfortably landing the 13-runner EI100 (J) on their winning dressage score. The pair had made a successful debut as a combination here last season.
WIN FOR MOORE
Just three of the nine starters in the EI100 (P) class managed to show jump clear with a first victory under Eventing Ireland rules going to Co Meath’s Sophie McNicholas and the seven-year-old dun gelding Star Of Hollymount.
Not everything went to plan for Amanda Goldsbury last Saturday but, leading from start to finish, she did land the 30-runner EI90 class on Pat Wall’s seven-year-old Lock Key mare Bridie (19.3) and was third on the former point-to-pointer and Clyda (1) winner, Murph’s Legend (22.8). The Co Meath rider’s horses were split by the Neil Morrison-partnered Fire And Fury (22.5), another thoroughbred who ran once between the flags.
Second on their Eventing Ireland debut two weeks earlier, Poppy Moore and the 11-year-old Muharib mare Crecora Angel (28.3) turned the tables on their Tyrella (1) conquerors, Abby Cummiskey and CSC Apache Dove (31.8) in the EI90 (P) class. The winners are representing the Iveagh Branch, and Area 17 of The Pony Club, at this weekend’s Dengie dressage finals in England.