CLARE Abbott, who represented Ireland at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and at European and World Championships, has been re-building her string of eventers in recent seasons and recorded her third win of 2026 at Glenpatrick last Saturday.

While she didn’t have the best of results in the CCI3*-S at Millstreet with MT Kenobis Touch, she had previously won the CCI2*-L at Ballindenisk and the EI115 at Tyrella 3 on that Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars gelding, whose stable-companion, MT In Luck, struck for the first time on his fourth Eventing Ireland start at the Megahey family’s Co Antrim venue.

Abbott and the five-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding led the EI100 throughout, completing on the dressage score (21.5) they were awarded by Lucinda Webb-Graham, as did eight other combinations. Finishing closest to MT In Luck, who was making his first appearance at this level, were the Freya Kennedy-partnered nine-year-old gelding Roughan Roulette (25) and the Steven Smith-ridden six-year-olds Royal Fashion (25.3) and CJO Lux Tangoed (25.5). Just one of the 20 starters failed to complete.

Bred in Co Carlow by Michael Doyle and owned by Abbott and her partner Gareth Carlisle, MT In Luck is by Lucky Luck out of the Diamond Serpent mare Oldyard Diamond, whose previous produce are headed by the 2015 Pointilliste gelding MGH Mr Messack. Oldyard Diamond is a half-sister to the Cruising gelding Ashdale Cruise Master (CCI5*).

“Gareth and I bought him as a foal at Goresbridge from his breeder,” revealed Abbott of her winner. “He is a horse I really like and would love to keep, as I think he’ll be a top level horse. He’s not super flashy, but does everything very correctly and is a natural galloper. His great attitude shone through in the show jumping today, I gave him a terrible ride and he still managed to go clear!

“I’ve got five event horses in to ride. The oldest is seven (MT Kenobis Touch), then I’ve two five-year- olds and two four-year-olds. Basically, I’m starting all over again, but they are a class bunch and it’ll be hard to sell any one of them. Hopefully though we’ll get an owner for one of the five-year-olds.”

Asked to comment on Saturday’s fixture, Abbott replied: “It was a lovely event, as usual prepped to perfection. Thankfully for Britt, it didn’t get turned into a mud bath, as has happened in previous years! The dressage was in a super place and we jumped on the all-weather. The cross-country had an inviting start with the fences coming up much faster in the second half. It was an ideal first EI100 for my five-year-old.”

Experience pays off

There were 14 starters in the EI90, where 15-year-old Isaac McCarthy completed on his Coreen Abernethy-awarded dressage score (26.3) with the vastly-experienced Arodstown Aramis (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan - Rosetown Echo, by Broussard). The 21-year-old ISH gelding is owned by the rider’s grandfather Denis Currie, who competed the bay at 3* level. Three combinations were eliminated, one in the show jumping phase.

Also completing on his flat work mark, David O’Connor had to settle for second place in that class with Tullymurry Express 2 (27.8) and, with Tullymurry Elegance, who had a pole down show jumping for a total of 35, also finished second in the 11-runner EI80. Here, there was a first EI success for Banbridge’s Robyn Rice, who completed on her dressage score (30.5) with Alison Irwin’s 10-year-old ISH mare Hans First Lady (Hans - Mac’s Lady, by Mac’s Lad).

The Northern Region is taking a few weeks’ break until its summer season starts at Hazeldene on Saturday, July 4th. Towards the end of August, the Megahey family will be hosting the first event at their new venue of Island Lodge.