SALLY Parkyn and Andrew Williams were double-jobbing last Sunday at Milchem Equestrian, where they judged the third leg of the Berts Properties eventing starter series, staged by the Western Region of Eventing Ireland, and pre-selected horses for the inaugural Goresbridge Copper Beach Sale of four and five-year-old eventers and show jumpers on May 25th.

To this end, and to the surprise of some if not many, the jumping phase of the majority of classes was assessed by Parkyn with her marks being added to those of Williams, who first scored the horses on the flat. Any jumping penalties were then subtracted to give the total.

With so many counter-attractions over the weekend, it wasn’t too surprising that the entry was on the low side here, with the largest field of 13 coming before the two judges in the Sligo Candy Boy four-year-old class. The top four places were filled by a quartet of horses, who were ‘already qualified’.

These were headed by the Tommy Considine-owned and ridden Dutch Warmblood gelding Kadonius (98 marks), ahead of the Jason Doerflinger-ridden pair of Milchem Margo (93) and DS Smok N Gun, whose total of 90.5 included four jumping penalties. The first combination to secure their qualifying ticket on Sunday on 85.5 was Tara Esler with the Darragh Glynn-bred Irish Sport Horse mare Coolin Lady C (Centennial - Marys Lady, by Aughrim Knight).

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Jason Doerflinger and Codys Delight won the Derryronane Stud five-year-old class on the highest score of the day at Milchem \ Sagittarian Photography

The highest combined score of the day, 108 marks, was awarded in the Derryronane Stud five-year-old class to Jason Doerflinger on board the Vancouver-sired Codys Delight, one of a trio of previously-qualified horses who claimed the top three places. The brown gelding comfortably topped Parkyn’s jumping scores on 45 marks, six clear of his nearest rival in this phase.

Behind the winners were Conor Dunlop with his own ISH gelding Take The Happy Path (97), a bay gelding by Road To Happiness, and the busy Luke Corcoran with the ISH gelding Coverfield Pedro (96), a chesnut by Zidane who had a fence down. Gabriel Freeney finished fourth on 93 marks to claim the class’s first qualifying spot with the Traditional ISH gelding Rathmorrissey Soldado (Glen Moss - Rhynn Clover, by Clover Joe), who was bred by John Niland.

Qualifying ticket

There were 12 starters in that class but only four in the Drumhowan Stud-sponsored six-year-old section, where the Milchem-based Scottish international event rider Becky Scott topped the scores with the previously-qualified black mare FS Stormborn (99 marks). Luke Corcoran finished five marks adrift but still bagged a qualifying ticket with Emmett’s Rose.

Regional chairperson, venue proprietor and the day’s course builder, Ralph Conroy, sponsored the 10-runner Milchem Equestrian pony class where, despite picking up four show jumping penalties, Ciara Dennigan ran out a comfortable winner with the previously-qualified six-year-old Connemara mare Flower Of Roo (102.5), a grey daughter of Banks Donovan.

Luke Corcoran secured another place in the final here with his home-bred five-year-old 138cm gelding Riverview Cardento, a bay by HSF Cardento Royale who finished second on 98, while George Kelly qualified in third with Laura Clarke Geraghty’s six-year-old mare Miss Lexi (96).

Four combinations contested the Treo Eile thoroughbred class, two of whom were previously-qualified and took the top two places. The winner on 96.5 was Sophie Walsh with the six-year-old My Dream Boat gelding Ennell Shadow, who was left in front when Julie Spring picked up eight jumping penalties with Free Out (89.5). The day’s first ticket went to the Aishling Donoghue-partnered 20-year-old Oscar gelding Silver Picture (83).

Other winners, and qualifiers, on Sunday were Aleesha Doerflinger with Killimor Flash in the six-runner open and Padraic Corcoran with the six-year-old Rosscarbery King in the Irish Draught class, in which he was one of just two starters.

The day’s Sea Warrior Sea Supplements turn-out prize was awarded to Lauren Quinn and the previously qualified So Hot, who finished fourth in the four-year-old class. The bay son of Conthargos is owned by Tommy Considine.

The fourth leg of the series takes place tomorrow at Tubberbride Stables, where it will be run in conjunction with the final qualifier for the performance Irish Draught championship at Balmoral.