LAST weekend turned into a busy one for the Kilguilkey House team who, at very much the last minute, decided to stage an Eventing Ireland one-day on Saturday, just 24 hours ahead of hosting a round of the Irish Pony Club/Connolly’s Red Mills eventing series.

“As we were competing against the Dublin Horse Show, we were delighted in number of entries we received,” commented Michelle Dulohery.

“We were missing a few of our regulars such as Chris Ryan, who was busy doing commentary in the UK at Aston Le Walls, however we were pleased to have Bill McGuire step in with Sue Ryan doing an amazing job in control.

“There were a number of Italian competitors in all classes, which is great to see. It was a lovely, relaxing event and the sun was out. What more could we ask for?” she concluded.

Michelle was competing herself on Saturday and, on board her lovely grey gelding Hector Knight (32.8), was narrowly beaten into second in the EI100 Amateur class by Gretta O’Mahony on Mealagh Chaplin (32.5). She also partnered the 2012 Dublin supreme hunter champion Sugar Bob into 10th (50.2).

Elaine Murphy broke a near decade-long losing spell, which included a four-year absence from Eventing Ireland competitions, when landing the 16-runner CNC* class with the thoroughbred mare Nino Manoso.

The Ballinasloe rider completed on her winning dressage score of 31.8 to finish over four penalty points clear of Northern raider Ella Boyle, who also remained unpenalised with Killadeas after the flatwork phase (36).

Rory O’Hare dropped from second to third when picking up four show jumping penalties with DBS Anchorman, while Emily Corbett went from third to fifth as she also had a pole down with Out All Night (38).

Murphy purchased Nino Manoso from Tom Slattery who then stood the winner’s sire, Warcraft, and owned the dam, Carolina Blue. The latter, a 1996 Rakaposhi King mare who ran twice without distinction in 2001, had a colt in 2011 and a filly in 2013 both of whom are by the Irish Draught stallion Heigh Ho Silver.

“I was going to Tom for lessons in 2010 and bought the mare, just backed, for my daughter Tracy,” reported Murphy.

“She did some dressage and riding club events on her, but when her job took Tracy to Dublin I took over the ride and then, three years ago, I decided to go back eventing.

“I’m going to aim the mare first at the National Championships in Tattersalls and then I’d love to do the CCI* at Tatts.

“I work with children with difficulties but am off now for a month and can concentrate on my training. I go to Ralph Convoy and train with Heike (Holstein) anytime she is down this way. The mare really looks after me and I think I was due this win!”

Just two combinations had problems across the country in this class: Max Harvey and the former Grade A gelding Carnaval Kannan picking up 20 jumping penalties (and 13.2 for time) after a stop at the Drop (15), and Emer Creedon and Shadow Indigo similarly penalised at the following Viaduct House at 16.