THE 2026 Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing series at The Meadows got underway last Saturday when, despite the snow and ice which prevented some people from travelling, there was an excellent turn-out at the McCusker family’s Lurgan venue.

The format of this well-established series remains the same, with points being awarded for performance in all three phases (dressage, show jumping and cross-country) plus attendance. There will be special prizes for the highest-placed Pony Club/Riding Club member, as well as for the highest-placed thoroughbred, sponsored by Treo Eile.

The dressage judges may vary week on week, but Aaron McCusker continues in the role of show jumping course builder, while Johnny Hagan has taken over as cross-country course designer. Hagan had a range of new fences at his disposal on Saturday, with a large number of conifer trees to use as dressing.

The conifers were somewhat matched by those utilised by Judy Maxwell in her display at the Baileys Horse Feeds stand, which she set up early on this cold but dry day. Maxwell will be in situ for all legs of the series and will be happy to dispense horsey treats as well as feeding advice.

Erin McClernon popped down to this first qualifier from Carrickfergus with her two event horses, Seapatrick Beachball and Jumper D’Ainay, both of whom won their dressage classes. However, the latter had to share the spoils in Section B of the Intro with the Ella Rose Sands-partnered nine-year-old gelding Drumlane Dick, who was also awarded a score of 72.3% by Lucinda Webb-Graham.

Novice

Just five combinations appeared before Vanda Stewart in the top-rated Novice class, which McClernon won comfortably on Seapatrick Beachball (75.5), a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Beach Ball who she has been competing with Eventing Ireland since the start of the 2023 season.

“I’m away for two weeks of the series, but will do all other legs with both horses,” said 19-year-old McClernon, who is studying design at Ulster University. “I got Bertie (Seapatrick Beachball) from Micky McCann. We’ve competed up to Intermediate level and will try to build on that in the coming season.” The pair recorded mixed results last year, putting in a good performance when fifth of 18 in the EI115 at Loughanmore in early August.

McClernon, who is assisted by her mother Deneen at events, gave Jumper D’Ainay four runs at EI90 level last year and plans to move the French-bred up to 1m this season. She didn’t have to travel too far to inspect this son of Night Wish, as he had been in training in nearby Larne with Stuart Crawford, for whom he ran in six point-to-point maidens between May 2023 and the same month the following year, pulling up three times. McClernon plans to chase Treo Eile points in this series, and others throughout the season, with Jumper D’Ainay.

Denis Currie, a multiple series winner in the past, finished second in the Novice class with his 16-year-old ISH gelding Merlot, on whom he recorded two EI110 (Amateur) wins and numerous placings last season.

Isaac McCarthy riding Monkey, winners of the Intro A Dressage at week one of the Meadows Flexi Eventing \ Tori O'Connor photography

Currie’s 15-year-old grandson Isaac McCarthy fared better on Saturday, as the Dromore High School pupil won the Stewart-judged, 22-runner Intro Section A with Dawn Carlisle’s 19-year-old bay gelding Suirvalley Little Monkey (77.8).

Webb-Graham judged the 20-runner Pre-Novice class, awarding her highest score (73.3) to Berni Muirhead and her nine-year-old gelding Out Of The Blue. Muirhead and the grey recorded one of the day’s many clear rounds in the show jumping arena, where there were five classes (70cm to 1.10m), while league points were also collected through cross-country clears at 75/80cm, 90cm and 1m levels. The league continues today and every Saturday up to and including February 14th, with the final, non-qualifying round taking place seven days later.

Today, in tandem with the Flexi Eventing, the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland is also running one of the first legs of the new PlusVital Spring Combined Training series at The Meadows.