ROBBIE Kearns and Garrybritt Bonny racked up their seasonal hat-trick in the CNCJ*. A blip last time out at Annaharvey resulted in a step down in class, but looking fully confident, they easily won from the front on a score of 25.0.

Over six marks adrift, Correna Bowe lowered the final fence with Gold Dancer, but her completion mark of 31.9 still gave her the advantage over Nessa Briody, clear with Kilnantic Brownie, and Kearns again riding Green Master.

Almost all of the country’s leading ponies turned out to contest what proved to be a highly competitive CNCP**.

Only one combination, Mary Smiddy and Mr Hale Bob, received a sub-40 dressage mark (36.8), and after adding a fraction of a penalty for time, the pair retained their winning advantage.

Staying in first phase order, Swedish visitor Selma Hammerstrom produced one of only three completely clear performances to hold second spot with Three Wells Breeze, from Lucy Hancock and Corries Whiskey.

Five combinations erred at differing fences in the country, most notably Hammarstom, whose second ride and well-placed Sligo Fortunas downed tools at the bank to water, four from home. A further two were eliminated in the show jumping.

Despite tipping a pole, Jennifer Kuehnle and Penyffinon Ricochet landed the five-strong EI 100P from the front. The field quickly became depleted when two were eliminated in the country, leaving Megan Telford-Kelly (Fond Of A Drop) as the sole double clear to fill second, from Christopher Dehaene and Miltown Magic.

The EI 100J was a far tighter affair, with Selma Hammarstrom (Gortglas Eclipse) narrowly holding the advantage over Sam Micklem and Hi Heaven. As the show jumping jostled the order, Hammarstrom produced a good double clear, to head Micklem by just 0.5 of a mark, and Holly Malone Morrissey (Castlebridge Boy).

Clear show jumping rounds were also the deciding factor the first of two TRI Equestrian EI 100 sections, in which just five jumped double clear. Promoted from an early second place, Jenny Doran led the field with Horseplay Diamond Matrix (31.5) from Patricia Ryan with Ballylynch Bryan Boru (32.0).

In comparison, it was the cross-country that proved problematic for many in the second division, but not for Ian Cassells and the eye catching Silver Ridge.

The son of Longwood Silver Dollar retained his opening mark (30.8) to resist the challenge of Eric O’Driscoll (Knockadoon Master Chance) as well as Heidi Hamilton with Gemini Jessie.

Spoils in the first of the year’s EI 100 classes for 4/5year-olds fell to Vicky Brown and Dunrath Snapdragon (see One To Watch), from Linda Murphy riding Shirsheen Fun Size and Louise Codd with Privatised. As the younger horses coped far better than the more experienced, the top four produced double clears, and all 16 completed.

Two classes set out over a lovely EI 90 track. Leading from the outset, Luke Drea claimed the open honours with the mare Gorsehill Lulu, while Ellen Creed and Miss Delilah moved up from second to land the pony division.