WHILE Ciaran Glynn, on November Night, left all the poles intact in the show jumping phase at Badminton last Sunday on his way to 14th place, the course he had designed at Killossery Lodge Stud for Ashbrook Riding Club’s Derby Day produced just five clear rounds from 49 starters.

International show jumping course builder Frank Glynn oversaw the knockable Derby tracks and judge Christine Walsh kept a close eye on the faults as they were racked up at all levels in this White’s Agri Supplies-sponsored section.

Cheval’s Eithne O’Connell recorded the only clear in the Primary division to win on her seven-year-old Connemara gelding Erne Valley Breffni. The dun has a great performance pedigree being by Gwennic de Goariva and bred by Eugene and Marcella Matthews out of the Templebready Fear Bui mare Pretty Bready.

TWO CLEARS

There were two clears in the Advanced Primary Derby with Castle Hill’s Paul Murray having to settle for second when home in 150.89 on his Irish Draught gelding Gentle Henry as Boyneside’s Louise Boylan was a lot faster on Glenkyle Mist (141.70). Another Connemara, the winning 18-year-old Tulira Robuck gelding was bred out of the Island Lad mare Fairly Lively by Thomas Dempsey.

Equine dentist Niamh Martin had the perfect warm-up for next week’s Balmoral Show as the Copperfield member won the Intermediate Derby with Lady Bell who she has qualified for Thursday’s five-year-old young event horse championship.

In a slow time, Martin recorded the only clear on her bay mare who was bred in Co Tipperary by Martin Egan. Lady Bell is by the ID stallion The Swarty Hero (by Crannagh Hero) out of the First Of Many mare Leaf Lass.

No one jumped clear in the Advanced Intermediate class where it all came down to time between the two four-faulters, Border Counties’ Amy Smyth, who claimed the honours on Mallard Spark (138.92), and Cheval’s Martin O’Brien who stopped the clock on 143.16 with Nutty Touch.

Symth’s successful five-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding comes from the first crop of the ID stallion Bann View Star and was bred in Co Fermanagh by Maurice Bingham out of the Nad Elshiba mare Cartron Countess. The bay is a half-brother to the 17-year-old Ricardo Z gelding The Lion who finished 47th under Britain’s Mathew Heath at Badminton last weekend.

In order to shorten the day for the Primary and Advanced Primary riders, the decision was taken to change what was the working hunter section into a performance hunter division.

With sponsorship from Tattersalls International Horse Trials, this was judged in the grass arena by Debbie Tems who, in deciding on her champion and reserve, reversed her placings in the Advanced Intermediate/Open class.

CHAMPION HONOURS

The 2019 champion is Horseplay Clover Star who was ridden by his owner, Jenny Doran.

Having bred the Captain Clover gelding, the Ashbrook member could reveal all about her seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse who is the second of six foals out of her former event mare Horseplay Jamboree (by Puissance).

“Dinky is a half-brother to HorsePlay Diamond Matrix (by Carrick Diamond Lad) who has over 400 Showjumping Ireland points, has jumped to 1.35m, has won under Eventing Ireland rules and is making his medium dressage debut in Redhills this Sunday (tomorrow)!

“Dinky hasn’t done a lot for his age. He has show jumped to 1.10m and is nearly ready to go 1.20m. This year I registered him with Dressage Ireland and he was reserve Preliminary champion at the winter finals in Cavan last month.

“We’ve been cross-country schooling and he loves it. I hope to take him eventing this year as I think he’s seriously talented and is the most gorgeous horse to ride. My original plan had been the small event horse class in Dublin, but that dream came to an end when they scrapped the class! I hope to take him to the working hunters in Dublin instead,” concluded the proud owner/breeder/rider.

The reserve champion, and winner of the Vicky Lambert Photography-sponsored prize as class winner, was Killeek’s Pauline Twadell with KMR Clover Rocket who was bred in Co Mayo by Oliver Conway out of the Arctic Rocket mare Cloontowart Primrose. The 10-year-old, who has 151 SJI points, is by the Clover Hill stallion, Clover Joe.

Winners

Also through as winners to the championship were Drynam’s Chloe Marks with the well-known Connemara gelding Killegar Mist, a 12-year-old grey by Ashfield Storm Cloud (Intermediate and young horse class), and Ashbrook’s Barbara Mackey with yet another Connemara gelding, the Prince Of Thieves 10-year-old, Moone Bandit (Primary and Advanced Primary).

In the Howth Financial Services & M.J. Accountancy dressage section, judged by Damien McCormack and Jean Halpenny, there was only one dual winner and that was Border Counties’ Kileane Goubert riding the wonderful 23-year-old chesnut gelding, Cloncaw Smartie.

The Castle Hill club is holding a working hunter and dressage show at its Julianstown base tomorrow while the Region’s Horseware team show jumping qualifier takes place on Sunday next, May 19th, at Ravensdale Lodge.