Sally Parkyn
SHOW jumping clears were at a premium in the CNCJ* and having recorded one of only two double clear rounds, Emma Kennedy notched up her first win of 2016 with Nauvoo (38.0). Another former Carol Gee inmate, the nine-year-old son of Clover Echo narrowly headed Arianne Finlay, who retained second spot with Avoca Alibi (38.5), from the Sam Micklem-ridden duo Smart Spirit and All of a Spin.
Kedrah winners Lucy Hancock (Whitetree Master) took a painful tumble at the dyke (7) while dressage leader Mary Smiddy and Carraigh Rua lost their advantage when clocking up 20 penalties at the same fence.
The same fence was responsible for two eliminations in the following CNCP**, which was won by Abbie Lucey riding Woodfield Clover Joker. Sharing the same score (34.00) but further from the optimum, Kate Lenehan (Quiverhill Remember Me) was the only other finisher.
It progressed to be a good day for Lenehan, who went on to head the CNP* aboard her second ride Sheebas Boy. Having not had the best of starts this season, the duo dominated the class of five, winning on their first phase score of 24.8. Roisin Reynolds (The Gray Gatsby) was also double clear in second (35.0), from Michelle O’Driscoll and Kingston David.
Opting to open his season in EI 100J company, Michael Patrick landed a good win aboard his Welsh cob cross, Ashraw High Flyer. Winners of the CNCJ* at Kilmanahan last autumn, the pair led from the front, ahead of second-placed Shannon Sheridan (Uisneagh Miss Douglas) and Danielle Magner (Woodfield Boomerang).
Carrying 21 runners apiece, the first of the two EI 10 divisions went to Sarah Dowley and Shannondale Dita. The daughter of Shannondale Sarco has had a few blips in CNC*classes this season but looked back to form to head Daragh Byrne (Sportsfield Chacoa) and the Kilkenny-based Brazilian rider Wagner Ayres-Corriera (Santa Fee).
Unlucky not to land her second victory of the season was Felicity Ward, who uncharacteristically gathered 20 penalties with dressage leader RCA Patron Saint.
Honours in the second sector fell to Dominic Furnell aboard the attractive Knockahunna French Twist (25.3). The son of French Buffet, who was a young event horse finalist in the RDS last year, headed the new combination of Eimer White and Madam Que (28.5), as well as Fergal Nesbitt with Mix Up (29.3).
The top 12 all produced double clear rounds, although the dyke complex (5) and the skinny brush combination (12) were largely responsible for the seven who faulted in the country.
The cross-country had been influential all day, but not more so than in the EI 90. Exactly half of the 28 runners incurred penalties, five of whom failed to complete.
Very few of those had been in contention however, and the spoils ultimately fell to dressage leaders Sian Hawkes riding Maurice Coleman’s Kilroe Double Bank (32.3). It was the first win on Irish soil for the British rider, who produces youngsters for Irish event horse owner and master of the Duhallow Foxhounds, Kate Jarvey.
Remaining in first phase order, Lee Maher and the eye-catching debutante Gallant filled second (33.0) from Denis Collins (Drombane Venture) in third (33.8). A similar pattern emerged in the EI90P, from which just two of the four runners returned home fault-free. Leading from the front, Richard Quirke and Evros Empire (32.5) took the honours, from Emily Symington and Bourneville Twix (34.3).