EQUESTRIANISM in the west of Ireland has received plenty of coverage in these pages over the past couple of weeks, and continues here with a report on the second round of the Eventing Ireland Western Region’s combined training league, which doubled as leg number two in the region of the Plusvital Spring Series.
On a beautiful spring day at Milchem Equestrian Centre in Tynagh, when the rain obliging only started falling as the competition reached its conclusion, two of Derval Diamond’s dressage winners maintained their position with clears over the Ralph Conroy-built show jumping track. Surprisingly, the home-based Duncan McFadyen was not one of these. In the 20-runner CT80, the Scottish native had to settle for second and third with Hollypark Daisy (30 penalties) and Marmaduke (31.25), who had occupied the top two spots after dressage before picking up four penalties apiece in phase two.
Completing on her flatwork mark (29.50) to take the win was Michelle Lucey with her James Melody-bred Irish Draught gelding Bouncers Son (Moylough Bouncer - Currower Gold, by Gurraun Zidane). This seven-year-old grey enjoyed a good season on the showing front in 2024, when he qualified for the younger performance ID class at Dublin.
In finishing fourth on her dressage mark (34.50), Hannah McGoldrick now occupies second place in the CT80 league with Rachel Counihan’s four-year-old ID mare Diamond Dayz.
Four show jumping penalties also resulted in McFadyen having to settle for the runner-up spot in the CT90, where only three of the 13 starters managed to jump clear.
Consistency is key
Topping the final leaderboard with 28 penalties was one of these, young rider Aleesha Doerflinger Duffy who repeated her win of the previous weekend with Killimor Flash who she has competed over the past couple of years in Pony Club dressage and combined training as a member of the East Galway Branch.
McFadyen completed on a total of 32.25 with the six-year-old ISH mare Kilnacross Orlaya Killinick (Killinick Bouncer - Kilnacross Flower, by Franks Fancy) while close up in third and fourth, with a fence down apiece, were Jed Dillon riding Dartans Jumping Jack Flash (36.5) and Gabriel Freeney on board Rathmorrissey Dreoilin (32.75).
Leading from the outset with the only sub 30-penalty score, Daisy Duggan completed on her flat mark (27.50) to win the 10-runner CT100 with Willows Freestyle Cavalier, whom she competed at CCI2* level last year. Duggan owns the ISH gelding by Freestyle Van de Wolfsakker in partnership with Seamus Drea, who bred the seven-year-old out of his Douglas Cavalier mare DSH Miss To Nice.
The home-based Becky Scott finished second with the previous weekend’s winner, the ISH mare RDM Ring Of The Night (30.5), a five-year-old bay daughter of Vivant Van De Heffinck, while Grace Mahon slotted into third, also on her first phase score (31) on board Regina Hoctor’s ISH mare Ballycondon OBOS (31), a seven-year-old chesnut by OBOS Quality 004.
Lucy Hope Ryan didn’t enjoy the best of days in the show jumping ring but a pole down in the CT110, which brought her total to 41.75 penalties, didn’t stop her winning with Ciara Mahon’s 10-year-old skewbald mare Pretty Patterns as they were the only starters.
The Plusvital series in the Western Region continues at Milchem tomorrow.