Sally Parkyn

SEAMLESSLY making the transition from pony to the junior ranks, the current EI national CNCP** champions Lucy Hancock and Corries Whiskey headed the seven strong CNCJ* by a distance.

Hancock made no further additions to her winning dressage mark of 29.00 and repeated the feat when piloting her second ride, Porter Lady into second spot on 34.75. As a true ‘small horse’ by Kings Master, Corries Whiskey looks to have scope on tap, and it will be interesting to see how his season progresses. Chloe Rooney and Molly May were next in line in third.

The promising partnership of Hannah Adams and Myshall Rodge have made giant steps since embarking on their EI career just 12 months ago and, having rapidly risen through the levels, the pair landed their fourth CNCP** victory last weekend. Although scoring just better than midway on the flat, Adams recorded the sole double clear round from a strong class of twelve leaving Rosanna winner Isabelle Comerford (Colour Me Fancy) and Blathnaid Boyd (Fernhill Ruby) to fill second and third positions.

The versatile Jennie Kuehnle, who had arrived home from show jumping in America just 10 days before, wowed the dressage adjudicator Marie Hennessey to score 29.0 but, just out of luck on the day, she added 20 penalties to an otherwise foot-perfect performance with Penyffynen Ricochet.

WINNING FORM

It is good to see the experienced Quiverhill Remember Me, now ridden by Kate Lenihan, return to winning form in the EI 100P. The 14-year-old gelding was a member of a European championship squad back in 2012 but has been absent from the event circuit for nearly three years.

Kilmacthomas-based Lenihan grasped the opportunity to take the ride last November, since when she has been successful in combined training and was second at Rosanna the previous week. Leading from the front, the pair headed Hannah Adams (Mr Blueskies) as well as Ciara O’Sullivan (Stonehavens Cloud).

“We’re still debating whether to move up a level sooner rather than later,” commented Gerry Lenihan. “The pair of them have benefitted from some high performance training with Becky Cullen and it’s all starting to come together.”

Another experienced campaigner to return to winning ways was Silken Scully who, on his seasonal debut, headed the EI 100J under new rider Mary Smiddy. The former Oliver Townend mount was on sparkling form in all three phases and, looking to have gelled happily with Smiddy, added just 1.2 time faults to his leading opening score of 30.5.

An expensive coloured pole demoted EI debutantes Rebecca Coonan and Painted Honor to third (35.0), reversing placings with fellow first-timers Charlotte Teehan and Boyne Fred.

An influential feature of the EI 100 tracks was a bank combination which headed away from home at the third. There were plenty of green wobbles for the less experienced but, as expected, it proved no problem for the winner and current national EI 100 champion Beechfield Gold Digga.

FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE

Capably deputising for his brother Michael, Hughie Ryan produced a flawless performance with this six-year-old son of Boherdeal Clover, who is likely to upgrade at Millstreet next time out.

In second spot throughout, Camilla Speirs could do no more than hold on to her placing with Jo Breheney’s consistent Rosanna winner LEB Lias Jewell, ahead of a busy Brian Morrison with the first-timer Ex.