It's not usual to lead off with a three-runner class but much credit must go to the CNCJ* winner Conor Maguire, and his mother Anne, for competing with the home-bred Derroon Wood as they live in Ballymote, Co Sligo which is well off the beaten track for the sport.

Maguire used to be more interested in show jumping but began eventing in September 2012 and now prefers this discipline. Since starting in one-star company in July last year, he and Derroon Wood have rarely been out of the top 10 in nine outings and finished sixth in the CICJ* at Ballindenisk last month.

On Saturday, 16-year-old Maguire completed on his flatwork mark of 31 with the eight-year-old Derroon Wood as the dressage winners, Kate Gibney and Sea Pearl (29.5), lowered two show jumps.

Just finishing off transition year in his local Colaiste Mhuire, Maguire explained why he changed sports. “It’s really because we find that we are now breeding horses more suited to eventing than jumping. Derroon Wood is by Templebready Fear Bui out of our Taldi mare and we like this mix of using Connemara stallions on our mares.”

Derroon Wood is the second of eight foals bred by Anne Maguire out of Rathdooney. All were by Connemaras, apart from the 2010 filly Step It Out Dorey, who is by former Grade A pony jumping stallion Ardfry Cedar (by Hawlaw Lucky Strike). The Maguires are also breeding out of the Grade C jumper Liberty Hill, who is by Clover Hill out of an unraced mare by Deep Run.

Toby Purce won the Junior C on his dressage score of 27 with the smashing 10-year-old chesnut gelding Stan From Meelin who was first produced by the rider’s sister Atalanta. The Dromore combination had one point in hand over Anna Kelly and the well-known Connemara Annagh Storm.

Susie Berry led after dressage with the former show jumper Mullentine High Society (24) but the Parco mare lowered one of the coloured poles before parting company with Berry at the Albany Birch.

A second success on the day for Steven Smith in section A of the pre-novice was foiled when, on his flat work mark of 36, he had to settle for the runner-up spot with The Irish Ambassador, a seven-year-old gelding by Cruisings Ambassador out of a Puissance mare who was having his second start.

The winner, on 34 penalties, was Ballymoney’s Alice Wilson and her good working hunter Ballinteer Gem, a nine-year-old bay mare by Moyan Clover Dazzle who was second at Finvoy the previous Saturday.

Former racehorses finished second, third and fourth in the 18-runner intro class behind the runaway winner, Rock Harbour, who was ridden to complete on his dressage score of 28.5 by owner Hugh Douglas.

This is a real eyeful of a horse who competed in the Future Event Horse League last year and who has attended two legs of this season’s Stepping Stones league. A tall, dark brown son of Colin Diamond, Rock Harbour was bred in Co Galway by Jimmy Burke out of a Little Interest mare. He had finished fourth on his EI debut at Finvoy.