LAST Saturday, Andrew and Laura Napier welcomed Eventing Ireland to Hazeldene for the third time this year as the North Region’s 2026 campaign resumed following a short break.

Although this fixture wasn’t originally on the schedule and, as the Equestrian Centre is at its busiest during the summer holiday period, Andrew was still able to provide new fences on the six tracks with his wood-carving skills being evident throughout.

With no other EI-affiliated event in the country last weekend, Ian Cassells competed five horses at the Co Down venue, none of whom finished worse than fifth. The South Co Dublin-based rider dominated the EI115 where, with time penalties, he finished first, second and third on the Irish Sport Horse geldings Cooley Capri Sun (37.9), MGH Rioja (38) and AFS Ralph (38.6).

Half of the 10-runner field erred in the show jumping ring but, while most were clear across the country at varying speeds, there was a parting of the ways at the first element of fence 12 between Michael O’Toole and Obsession AKA Ballybeg Obsession. Thankfully, neither was injured in the incident.

Although only third in the EI110 following dressage, Cassells took the win on Carol Gee’s seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Tresor V’t Dauwhof whose total of 28.1 included two show jumping time penalties. The El Barone bay, who was having his fourth EI start on Sunday, had previous accumulated 90 Show Jumping Ireland penalties for the Adams family.

The early leaders, Casey Webb with Bluestone Pharaoh (24) and Lesley Jones with Quality Choice (24.5) dropped to fourth (34.8) and third (30.9) respectively. Steven Smith picked up a small number of time penalties (1.2) in the show jumping ring en route to finishing second (29.7) with Ann Bowe’s six-year-old ISH gelding Le Barantula.

“All of these horses are for sale,” said Cassells who, with time penalties on both jumping phases, finished fifth in that EI110 on Bellscross Tysons Star (36.7).

“Cooley Capri Sun is owned by Caroline Kelly and her daughter Alannah who, with other commitments, is stepping back from the sport. Bellscross Tysons Star and MGH Rioja are heading to Millstreet for the CCI2*-L while Capri Sun is going for the CCI3*-S.”

Steven Smith comfortably won the four-runner EI110 (Open) when completing on his dressage score (25.8) with Gail McNab’s eight-year-old ISH gelding Greenhall Gold Dust.

In the 12-strong EI100, Smith had to settle for second on 34.6 having picked up 4.8 cross-country time penalties on John Greene’s home-bred six-year-old Royal Fashion who was also placed on all four of her previous EI starts. The winners, despite a fence down show jumping, were Freya Kennedy and Patrick McAvoy’s nine-year-old home-bred mare Roughan Roulette (32.3).

Suzanne Hagan jumped a double clear with a small number of time penalties on both phases en route to an uncontested success in the EI115 (Open) with Anne Magee and Jane Hancock’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Karolita O.