Margie McLoone

FROM day one, the same six combinations occupied the first six places in the Tredstep Ireland CCIJ* but the final show jumping phase had a major effect on the result as Robbie Kearns ran out the narrow winner on Garrybritt Bonny.

Dressage for this 28-runner class at the Tattersalls international horse trials commenced just after noon on Thursday.

First to go, Kearns and the Ramiro B mare set the standard when receiving a penalty score of 48.80 from the ground jury of Britain’s Tim Downes (C), Ireland’s Faith Ponsonby (H) and Ralf Ehrenbrink (B) of Germany. Five horses later, the lead passed to Conor Maguire riding Derroon Wood (47.30), the horse on whom he had made his Tattersalls international debut last year.

In third place at day’s end was Britain’s Alex Kennedy with Chocolate Domino (48.90), followed by Co Kildare’s Tessa Harley with Catsky (49.90), Britain’s Charlotte Bacon, who had been last to compete, on Sannanvlley Justice (50.30) and Co Wicklow’s Sam Micklem with Smart Spirit (50.60).

All six were clear within the time over the cross-country course on Friday but there were problems on the phase.

Co Down’s Adam Haugh and Jantar, who had been lying seventh (52.20), dropped out of contention when glancing off the Ringfort Sport Horses brush corner B element of fence four where Kearns also picked up 20 jumping penalties on his second mount, Green Master. Both riders accrued time penalties.

North county Dublin’s Ciaran Gaffney was never happy with Vigo Sun Light, who he retired following stops at four A (log) and the following Tredstep brush skinny on an ubiquitous mound. Co Meath’s Stephanie Stammschroer was eliminated when parting company from Tullabeg Horizon at the Horse First drop log (15). The phase continued to have its effect at Saturday morning’s second horse inspection where Willows Dark Stranger (Joanne Corish), Lily Mae (Holly Wray) and Gold Dancer (Correna Bowe) were not accepted.

Outside the top half-dozen there were few clear show jumping rounds but Coleraine’s Lucy Lamont moved up five places to 12th when the Grade C gelding Mellow Gold left all the poles intact inside the time. Aine Freyne completed in ninth place on her first phase score of 61.70 with Penny Swift having been 23rd after dressage.

Micklem and Smart Spirit, who had a poor show jumping phase last year, lowered the oxer at three but remained in sixth place and their round was followed by clears from the four immediately above them.

STYLISH CLEAR

Having failed to survive the second horse inspection 12 months previously, Maguire and Derroon Wood now went into the Irish Independent arena in first place. Theirs was a stylish clear but, much to the frustration of all those watching the clock, the Co Sligo combination were well outside the time allowed of 72 seconds and four very expensive penalties dropped them to fifth.

He may not have won as he would have liked, but there was no denying the delight of Limerick’s Robbie Kearns who landed a CICJ* on the 10-year-old bay at Ballindenisk in April and now hopes to get on the junior team.

A boarder at Glenstal Abbey School who is going into sixth year next term, he had finished 12th in this class last season on Garrybritt Bonny.

“I spent transition year at Jane O’Flynn’s yard and while there sat up on the mare,” reported the 17-year-old. “I got on really well with her so my parents, Trish and Gerry, bought her and she’s kept with Emma McNamara. It’s hard to compete while at school as I only get to ride on Wednesdays, when I have a half-day, and on the Saturdays before an event. I’m coached in show jumping by Stephen Cox.”

Kearns’s feat was all the more remarkable when one considers that Britain’s Alex Kennedy, who finished second with her 2007 Diamant De Semilly gelding Chocolate Domino, is a working pupil with the Dumas family in Somerset. The 18-year-old, who has been competing the Alan Robertson-bred Irish Sport Horse since 2012, was on her first visit to Tattersalls.

“I’m over the moon with that result!” she enthused. “I’d heard very good things about the event from the Dumas and will definitely be back.”

Kennedy and Charlotte Bacon are on the British long-list for August’s Junior European Championships in Poland.