THE Amateur Committee of Eventing Ireland ran four residential camps between Castle Leslie and Ross House this year, with coaching from Dale Roberts and Robert Mundy, and are planning more training and camps for the year ahead.

Over Christmas new perpetual bronze horse head trophies, kindly sponsored by the Brown family, will be wending their way to the winners of this year’s Amateur leagues. Symone Brown, a popular and active competitor on the Amateur circuit, was delighted to give something back to the sport and this gesture is much appreciated by the Committee and her fellow competitors.

The Howth-based Australian international put in a spirited effort to win the EI110 (Amateur) league herself with Global Merlot, amassing 65 points. However, she and her nine-year-old Lancelot gelding, who won at Tyrella (2) in early April and Ballindenisk (2) in mid-July and were second three times in seven national outings, were beaten into second by Denis Coakley and Prince Louis (77).

The Co Meath businessman completed 10 of his 11 starts this season with the 12-year-old gelding on whom he won first time out at Lisgarvan House (1) in late April and finished in the top half-dozen on six other occasions. In late August, the pairing placed second to Ailbhe McGrath and Tredstep Renaissance Man at Loughanmore where Coakley was also fourth on Shannondale George who is usually ridden by his daughter Abby.

Prince Louis, who is a son of the little-used thoroughbred stallion Tayari, was bred in Co Tipperary by Grainne Wade out of the Mr Clover mare Tankerstown Lady.

Denis Currie, who won the EI110 (Amateur) title in the Northern Region for the fifth time this year, had to settle for third place at national level. In a restricted season, he picked up 60 points with Arodstown Aramis on whom he recorded wins at Tyrella (1), Tyrella (4), Finvoy and Vesey Lodge.

Flying the flag

Northern Region members won the other two national leagues. At EI100 (Amateur) level, Christina Turley recorded a comprehensive success (120 points) with her 11-year-old bay gelding Anns Bob on whom she had concluded 2018 with victory in the EI90 (Amateur) championship at Kilguilkey House. This year, the Co Down partnership had 15 outings at their new grade, recording wins at Tullymurry (1) and Knockany.

Fellow Northern Region member Jayne Moore finished second with Laylas Way on whom she had just the one win, at Tyrella (4), but still managed to accumulate 93 points with the very consistent eight-year-old High Roller mare. Co Tipperary’s Katy Anchell finished third on 68 points with her 10-year-old brown gelding Skylow.

In the EI90 (Amateur) league, only three points separated the top two riders, both of whom are members of the Northern Region and both of whom started their campaigns this year as the season opened on Saturday, March 23rd at Tyrella (1).

That day, Ailsa Martin, who runs a dog-walking/dog-caring business in Co Down, won on Grateful Gold, while Margery Warnock finished fifth with Butterfly Charm. At national level, Martin, who ventured south three times, completed the season on 85 points with her 15-year-old chesnut mare who is by the Irish Sport Horse stallion The Northern Pride and was bred in Co Tyrone by Brian Kelly.

Warnock’s sole trip south in 12 starts took her only as far as Glaslough so it was little surprise to find that while having to settle for second place nationally on 82 points, she won the Northern Region EI90 (Amateur) title with her 13-year-old Amiro M mare Butterfly Charm on whom she returned to eventing this season. Yvonne Gavin finished third in the national league with her nine-year-old Connemara gelding, Lusmagh Derby (70 points).