All too often, equestrianism is ignored when the role of women in sport is being discussed but it was most definitely ladies’ day at Killossery Lodge Stud last Saturday, where just one of the 14 classes was won by a male rider.

This was the second one-day event to be held at the Glynn family’s re-vamped grounds in three weeks and was staged as a replacement for the cancelled Ravensdale Lodge. As was to be expected, there wasn’t much change to the cross-country track but it will be interesting to see what alterations are made for the next Eventing Ireland competition at the north Co Dublin venue on Saturday, July 5th.

One noticeable difference since late May was that the ground had dried out considerably, particularly so running downhill towards the new water complex. It was firm in a couple of places but, according to riders, rode much better than it walked.

While the organisers are still feeling their way with Killossery as an eventing venue, it would seem a very good idea to have times for show jumping. The programme asked riders to show jump within half an hour of their dressage and stated that multiple riders would have precedence in the two jumping arenas.

All well and good until it comes into practice. Saturday’s event attracted a lot of professional riders with multiple mounts through the grades and it would have made life a lot easier for them, and those in charge of the call-up boards, if show jumping times had been allocated. This would appease the one-horse rider as well as their patience can run out if, having warmed up, they are asked to let others go before them more than once.

Having taken a break from eventing since Killossery (1), Emma Jackson returned to finish first and second in the nine-runner O/CNC* with Creevagh Connection and Amy B who completed on their dressage scores of 27.5 and 29 penalties respectively.

While there were no jumping penalties picked up in this class across the country, Jackson’s mounts were the only ones to get home within the time.

The seven-year-old S Creevagh Ferro gelding Creevagh Connection, who won the sole novice class here in May, is competing in the CIC* at Kilguilkey this weekend while his stable companion moves into international intermediate company for the first time at the Co Cork venue.

There were nine entries also in the CNCJ*, which was won in comprehensive fashion by Kate Gibney and her mother Becky’s Sea Pearl. The pair had finished 16th of 35 in the junior class at Tattersalls International, having had seven show jumping penalties.

Here the Ratoath combination, who were recording their first EI success together, were clear over the coloured poles. They were then fastest in the class across the country, adding 1.2 time penalties to their dressage score of 34.5.

The Gibneys purchased the now 10-year-old grey Limmerick mare towards the end of 2012 from Susan Byrne, who also competed on Sunday at Killossery, where she was second in the EI 100 Amateur class on Brendan Voyage. At the time, the Gibneys were unaware that Sea Pearl had won her show hunter pony class at the RDS in 2010 under the name Mrs Lovely.

While Sea Pearl is definitely being aimed at Camphire, there is a dispute between owner and rider as to which class is on her agenda. Unlike many other winning riders mentioned here, Gibney junior is not competing at Kilguilkey this weekend but instead rides a home-bred Templebready Fear Bui mare in the Irish Pony Club event at Dromiskin tomorrow.