FRESH from competing in the five-year-old young event horse class at the RDS, Sian Coleman scored a double at EI115 level at the welcome return of Flowerhill to the eventing calendar last Sunday.

Riding Duniro (ISH), Coleman won the EI115 (Open) class after securing an unassailable lead in the first phase on an impressive 26.4 penalties. Adding 6.8 cross-country time penalties to finish on 33.2, she remained well ahead of second-placed combination Fernhill Inferno (ISH by Cit Cat) ridden by Cameron Kiernan and third placed Liberty Belle (ISH by Heritage Fortunus) ridden by James O’Haire. O’Haire had the better dressage score of 35.5 but 15.1 for time saw Kiernan climb to second on a total of 49.6. Duniro is sired by Abbeyfield Comet (CP), was bred by William Stephenson and is owned by Mary Horgan. The 12-year-old dun was second on his last outing at EI110 level at Loughanmore and completed his first CCI3*-S at Aston Le Walls in July.

Coleman then cemented her dominance on the day in the EI115 class with Fabia HSH (by Elvis Ter Putte bred by Hadley Sport Horses and owned by Catherine Swain). Here, Coleman led from the outset once more on 29.2 to which she added just 1.2 cross-country time penalties. Fabia HSH is an eight-year-old who Coleman picked up the ride on this year and the pair have had all top-10 finishes in that time.

Dominic Furnell was second with SHL Donatello (ISH by Orestus), adding 0.4 time penalties to a first phase score of 36.4 and he was also third with Ballycahane Pocahontas (ISH by Pointilliste).

“It was a lovely event, really relaxed,” Coleman said. “There wasn’t a huge entry and the course was really fresh. I know Danny Dulohery (of Kilguilkey House) was helping in the designing and the fences and it was all really well presented. It is a great track for young horses with lots of water splashes and twists and turns, very educational.

“Duniro (Dunny) is one I got just to keep ticking over while the owner’s daughter is finishing up on ponies. He’s a really talented little horse and he has his first advanced under his belt now, so hopefully he and Niamh will go out and have fun from here on. It was a really nice way to finish up my time with him.

“Fabia HSH is a big scopey mare, also very talented and it is the same thing there, I was asked to help produce her while the owner’s daughter transitions from ponies to horses. The girls have a lot to look forward to, they’ve both got loads of ability for three-star.”

Delighted to be back on the calendar was Flowerhill’s Oliver Walsh. “We had a great day, the riders seemed very happy with the course. It took us a while to get going again, but we are back. We’ve upgraded the course and invested a lot in it. We hope to run again unaffiliated at the end of the month, there’s not a lot of eventing around here and people wouldn’t be members of Eventing Ireland so it’s a good way to get people going and then hopefully we will have another EI event before the end of the season.

“We put a lot of work in and I had a lot of help from Danny with the course and from my daughter Zara and my partner Giulia Kramer.”

A second Flowerhill ODE has now been confirmed on the calendar for September 14th with classes from EI80 to EI115.

EI110/ EI100

Isobella Donohue had her first win of the season with Poynstown Cubby (Mermus R) in the EI110 (Open) when she added just 0.8 cross-country time penalties to her dressage score of 32.3. In the EI110, the top spot went to the six-year-old Belline Castle Ziggy (ISH by Sligo Candy Boy), ridden by Robbie Kearns, where they were the only pair to add nothing to their first-phase score of 33.3. The EI110 (J) was won by Greygrove Delight (ISH) and Caitlin Woods. This six-year-old by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan added 1.6 time penalties to a dressage score of 27.0 to secure their second win of the season.

In the EI100, Larchill Clurachan (ISH) and Padraig Flanagan took their first win on an untouched 27.5, the six-year-old by Dr Erewhon having just begun his eventing career in June. At EI100 (J) level, Black Field (TB) and Evita Thomsen were victorious when, despite four show jumping penalties, their dressage score of 27.8 was enough to leave them in the lead. Similarly, at EI100 (P) level, Houndswood Moonbay (CP) and Molly Egan held on to their first-phase lead on a score of 31.5 to which they added just 1.2 for time.

Richard Hunter and Greannanstown Exhibition won the EI90 (Amateur) class on their first-phase score of 33.0, while in the EI90 class Flanagan and Larchill Heyman (ISH) won again on 33.3. The EI90 (P) was won by Lucy Ferris and Duncarbery Cascade (CP) on their impressive dressage score of 27.5. Annalisa Cleary and Ballyquirke Lad picked up the EI80 win.