THE Western Region of Eventing Ireland is once again running a combined training league at Milchem Equestrian Centre of regional chairman Ralph Conroy in Tynagh, Co Galway.

The first of four qualifiers for the February 15th final took place in sunny if cool conditions last Sunday, when it doubled up as the first of five qualifying rounds in the Region for the inaugural nationwide Plusvital Spring Series combined training league.

Riders and officials eased into the series with a leisurely 11am start to the Sue Ryan-judged dressage phase of the opening EI80 qualifier. This was won comfortably, on her flat work score (27.5 penalties), by Vicky Foster with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Codys Delight, a five-year-old black son of Vancouver out of a Mermus R mare.

With Duncan McFadyen having a fence down on Hollypark Daisy, who had been lying second on 31.25, Hannah McGoldrick moved up a place on 32.25 with the four-year-old Irish Draught gelding Diamond Dayz (Drishane Diamond - Dunsandle Quiet Lady, by Dunsandle Diamond).

The Conroy-built show jumping track had a decided influence at EI90 level but, happily for two riders who had a pole down apiece, they both had recorded sub 30-penalty dressage scores to finish first and second on the final leaderboard.

The honours went to Aleesha Doerflinger Duffy riding the 16-year-old grey gelding Killimor Flash (30.50), with Hannah McGoldrick again having to settle for the runner-up slot, on this occasion with the ISH gelding Dundrum Candy Cruise (31.75). This five-year-old by Sligo Candy Boy did a small amount of registered show jumping last season.

The highest-placed rider who put in a clear round was Aoileann Nic An Iomaire, who did so on board her nine-year-old ISH mare The Tribes Woman (Castlelawn Captain Junior - The Grey Phantom, by Welcome Flagmount) who she competes as an AA amateur with SJI.

The home-based Scottish international event rider Becky Scott completed on her winning dressage score (25.25 penalties) to win the EI100 with her five-year-old ISH mare RDM Ring Of The Night (Vivant Van de Heffinck - Night Fly, by Maltstriker). Karen MacGrath took second here with her seven-year-old ISH gelding Monocular (Timone - Jog On Kitty, by Generous) who has 17 Show Jumping Ireland points to his credit and won an EI90 (Amateur) class on his only affiliated outing in 2024.