“I’M delighted with Licence To Cooley, he was fantastic on the day,” said John Tilley of his winning ride in the Bedmax EI115 (Open) at Grove. The combination’s phenomenal dressage score of 18, awarded by judge Faith Ponsonby, left them over nine marks ahead of their nearest competitor after the first phase and enabled them to maintain their lead, despite the addition of 9.2 cross-country time faults.
“I thought it was a really good course,” said Tilley afterwards. “There were plenty of questions on it, it was beautifully presented and up to height and, considering the lack of rain, the ground was surprisingly good.” Tilley’s 12-year-old gelding by Balou de Rouet Z will now be aimed at the CCI4*-S at both Aston-le-Walls and Millstreet, ahead of the long format event at Blenheim.
While the show jumping phase caused little issue, the cross-country time proved influential, and the remaining podium places went to the fastest rounds in the class. Molly O’Neill and her own Muckridge Quick Step added just 3.2 time penalties to their dressage score of 32.3 to take second, while Patrick Byrne produced the quickest round of the day for 2.4 time penalties and third place riding Richard Ames’ Belline Castle ONR Candy.
Molly O’Neill claimed another runner-up spot in the Waterford Stanley EI115, this time riding Muckridge Ambassador (41.9), where Clare Abbott edged ahead of her with her Ballindenisk CCI2*-L winner MT Kenobis Touch (41.2). Having sat in second place after dressage, Ben Connors and Zuperlative had to settle for eventual third after rolling a pole in the show jumping phase to finish on 42.2.
Abbott was another rider full of praise for the Co Tipperary venue, saying: “Grove is always a brilliant setting for an event, and the space they have to run each phase is fantastic, so it’s a lovely event to attend. MT Kenobis Touch is a very talented seven-year-old, whom we hope will be my next top horse. He’s learning the ropes at this level, and when all phases go well, he wins!”
Cathal Daniels took first and third of the five runners in the Fernhill/Sportsfield EI110 (Open) class, riding two horses by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan and owned by Sarah Hughes. His winner was Shannondale Mari, who, on her second run since completing Boekelo CCI4*-L last autumn, added nothing to her dressage score of 26.8. Third was Shannondale Micah, who incurred a handful of cross-country time penalties to complete on 34.9. Suzanne Hagan and Karolita O slotted into second on 31.7.
Success for Ennis sisters
Large entries at Grove saw the Knight Frank EI110 divided into two sections, in which the Ennis sisters featured strongly at the top end of both scoreboards. Nicola claimed Section B on her own eight-year-old thoroughbred gelding Devils Cape, when the combination completed on their dressage score of 28. First phase leaders Luca Bortolamei and Lancillotto della Malaspina Z had to settle for second after incurring six time penalties across country to finish on 31.5, while Isabel Byrne took third riding Hilton Ka Boom.
Sarah Ennis took fourth here with the traditionally-bred Alabama Cruise, before adding to her tally by winning Section A with the Jaguar Mail-sired Fenyas Email. This six-year-old mare added only 1.6 cross-country time penalties to her leading dressage score of 23.3, to finish over four marks ahead of second-placed Nicola Ennis and HVL Air Springs. Patrick Whelan and Rigoletto took third here, having posted the only double clear inside the optimum time in the class.
The Sullivans Pharmacy EI100 was similarly divided into two sections, the first of which went the way of Edie Murray-Hayden, whose Connemara pony Carraroe Coilin has yet to finish outside the top three placings from his three Eventing Ireland runs. Nadia Sabot and Mika of Heritage established such a strong lead in the first phase here that the addition of 10.8 time faults cross-country could only demote them to second, while Clare Abbott was “chuffed” with MT In Luck’s double clear for third place.
Young rider Molly O’Connor claimed Section B at this level riding another of Sarah Hughes’ Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan progeny, Lisbrogan Sarco. Sara Lundkvist finished second with Springwind Cevin, exactly a mark in arrears, while Cathal Daniels featured again in third riding Number One.
BMC Cornet Son made his Eventing Ireland debut a winning one in the EI90 for rider Carla Williamson. The four-year-old scored convincingly, staying on his dressage score of 26.8, ahead of Rosie Alcorn and Goodwins Boru (28) and Keelin McCarthy and Romans Uncle Mo (29.8) in second and third respectively.