Margie McLoone

CONGESTED is a word not usually associated with young event horse competitions but it was being used by riders on Wednesday evening at the Dublin Horse Show when the first phase of the two classes took place in Ring 2.

At times those jumping were entering the dressage area as others were performing their ridden displays and, with others being assessed for conformation and another being lined-up to start, there were a lot of distractions for the youngsters.

These in addition to the usual Horse Show experience of loud music and large crowds who are close up to the ring, something most unfamiliar at Irish one-day events. One suggestion was that horses could do that first phase on the Tuesday on arrival at the showgrounds and then jump in the main arena on Wednesday but, as this would mean judges, stewards, etc arriving a day earlier it wouldn’t seem practical.

Jason Higgins never seems to be fazed by anything and just goes about his business. He didn’t have much luck last week in other sections of the show but won the four-year-old class on Mary Bolger’s Kilcannon High Society, winner previously of the Young Event-Horse Series for his age group.

On a good score of 25.5% (out of 40) on day one, the Wexford partnership produced an excellent clear round over the brilliant fences in the main arena on Thursday, one which generated a combined top score of 12.7% (out of 15) from judges Bill Levett, Jim Wofford and Erik Grandiére for a total of 83.2.

On Wednesday, their marks for the jumping phase ranged from 12% down to two (out of 15) and the following morning from the top score of Kilcannon High Society down to nine. Wofford in particular was critical of riders overflexing their horses, shortening them in the neck and lowering the jump.

Higgins purchased the good-looking chesnut at Goresbridge last September having been sent there by Mary Bolger with instructions to buy a winner for this class.

When asked earlier in the year if she would sell the gelding, the Enniscorthy owner said she wouldn’t until after Dublin. “We’ve done all the hard work and now it’s time to have some fun,” she commented.

Kilcannon High Society was bred by the Russell family who stand his sire, the Harlequin du Carel stallion Rehy High Society (whose oldest crop are six) in Co Clare. His dam is Rehy Delight, by Abdullah and the stallion does nick well with blood mares. After his win last week, Kilcannon High Society was sold to go eventing in Britain.

For a long time on Thursday, Gwen Scott held the lead on the McLoughlin Brothers homebred Glendew on a score of 82.7.

However, while the Peter Pan bay was collared near the conclusion of the competition by Higgins’s mount, she did pick up an extra €1,000 for connections as the leading mare. Carol Gee’s much-admired Newmarket Con finished third (82.5) under Emily Corbett.

At present, Steven Smith plans to hold on to his RKD Architects winner Derryinver Girl who he owns in partnership with brother Trevor. A brown daughter of Contador, she is out of the Grade A mare Ye Little Girl, by Ard Allez Cat.

Derryinver Girl, who was well-marked in all phases and led overnight on 27.3, wasn’t being aimed at the YES series at the start of the year but with other horses in the yard going down that route, Smith decided that she could go as well.

“I was thrilled to bits with her,” said the Gilford rider who pocketed the mare’s bonus in addition to the first place prize money of €2,000 when Derryinver Girl completed on a total of 84.3. “I think she could be one for Le Lion d’Angers next year and I’d really like to produce her up the grades.

“The grey mare (Diane Harron Eakin’s EMS Florence) just found it all too much of an occasion while Gina Johnson’s horse (Hill Patrol) only went along as he had qualified and is really a horse for next year.

“Major Black, who was in third place overnight, is a horse I’m bringing along for a 13-year-old girl to ride in the future so is not for sale.”

Kilkenny producer Carol Gee and Emily Corbett were in the money again here when the A Quidam M gelding Ballycorman Smokie finished second (80.8) while Louise Bloomer placed third on the Balmoral winner Hollybrook Hotshot (80.6), the attractive Ars Vivendi gelding she owns in partnership with her mother Jane.