BALLYNAHINCH-based Gillian Beale King dominated the Novice dressage at last Saturday’s second leg of the 2026 Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series at The Meadows.

The US international event rider topped the scores of Coreen Abernethy on Lawrence Patterson’s Zangersheide stallion Dorus Heldenlaan Z (70.8%), the dark bay son of Doree Van De Moskifarm who she competed in the CCI2*-L for six-year-olds at Le Lion d’Angers last October. On their final 2025 start in this country, when they had a pole down show jumping, the pair finished ninth of 33 in the CCI2*-S at Ballindenisk in late September.

Beale King placed second on Saturday with her own 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Tullibards Evita (69.8), who won a CCI2*-S and was placed at CCI3*-L level in 2025, and third on Patterson’s eight-year-old ISH gelding Bonmahon Triomphant (69.5), who was campaigned last season by Sean Looney.

Casey Webb, who was recently elected on to the Eventing Ireland Northern Region committee, also had a busy day riding four of the seven entries from the Smith Brothers’ Gilford yard. Three of these were in the Abernethy-judged 23-runner Pre-novice, which she won with Robert and Jane Huey’s home-bred Knockaleery Mill Leat (71.3), a Traditional Irish Horse by Watermill Swatch out of Tullys Sasha (by Creevagh Grey Rebel). Webb and the seven-year-old grey mare recorded five top-six placings from eight EI100 outings last season.

Thirteen-year-old Charlie Watson placed second here with her mother Louise’s traditionally-bred Toberpatrick Gentle Dove (70.3). The nine-year-old Financial Reward mare is usually partnered by the rider’s brother Zack, who is sidelined having broken a collarbone playing rugby.

The Intro dressage was again divided, with the 23 starters in Section A coming under the scrutiny of Julie Greene. Her clear-cut winner on 78% was Kaiti McCann and the 17-year-old skewbald mare Boyher Cookies N’ Crème, who is a staple in this league. In 2025, this combination won three EI90 (amateur) classes and finished second in two of their other three starts. Helen Sawey-Quinn filled the runner-up spot on her traditionally-bred ISH gelding Conor (75.3), the 2018 Lacken Cruise Lad grey with whom she finished second in the EI90 (Amateur) national championship last October.

https://foto.ifj.ie/fotoweb/archives/5006-Irish-Horse-World/Irish%20Horse%20World/2020/TO5_0130.jpg.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5006-Irish-Horse-World%2F%3Fq%3Dthe%2520meadows

Erin McCrea riding Eisfee, winners of the Intermediate Dressage at The Meadows \ Tori O'Connor

Iveagh Pony Club member Isaac McCarthy made it two-for-two in Section B on board Dawn Carlisle’s 19-year-old bay gelding Suirvalley Little Monkey. McCarthy too was a comprehensive winner on the 73.3 score he was awarded by Corey Mawhinney (List 6) in this 28-runner class, while Sarah Cowan slotted into second with the seven-year-old Connemara gelding Gleann Rua Storm (70.5).

The sole competitor to come before Coreen Abernethy in the Intermediate dressage was Erin McCrea, who scored 71.2 for her test on the 19-year-old Hanoverian mare Eisfee (by Embassy).

The Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing league, which also features show jumping and cross-country, continues today and every Saturday up to and including February 14th, with the final, non-qualifying round, taking place seven days later.

League points are awarded for both performance and attendance.