ANDREW and Laura Napier hosted their third Eventing Ireland Northern Region one-day event last Saturday at Hazeldene where, as usual, they were assisted by members of the extended Napier and Turley families.

The beautiful weather drew spectators to the main water complex, a human watering and feeding station, where cheers for competitors broke the usual hush-hush atmosphere at most national events. As ever, Andrew’s wood carving skills were evident throughout the venue, invasive species such as crocodiles and bears being spotted alongside pheasants and native creatures.

Unusually, but not unexpected at this time of year, event secretary Dora Beacom found herself a bit short of helpers for Saturday but many of those who did volunteer were happy enough to do a bit of double-jobbing. The Napiers held a Go-As-You-Please over the cross-country course on Sunday - jokingly advising people to bring their own horse - and the course is to remain open for a short time.

There were just 34 runners in total in the Novice and Intermediate classes on Saturday with the largest field of nine starters in the EI115 being whittled away to five finishers. None of these beat the clock across the country while only one managed to do so over the coloured poles but they had 12 jumping penalties.

The win went to Co Kildare raider James O’Haire on board Patricia Heffernan’s eight-year-old home-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Son Of Montague (by Womanizer) whose completion score of 51.9 included two penalties for time show jumping and 14 for time on the final leg. Faster across the country (9.2) and only a second over the time show jumping, Alex O’Hare finished second with Jerone HBC (54.6). Leading after dressage (32.7) and clear show jumping, Hannah Groves failed to go through the cross-country finish with MMF Churchill.

James O'Haire and Son of Montague winning EI115 at Hazeldene3 \ Anne Hughes

Smith double

Steven Smith recorded a double. Carrying the No 1 bib, he initiated his brace in the five-runner EI115 (Open) on Caryn Walker’s home-bred ISH gelding Newferry Jagermeister, a 14-year-old Lougherne Cashell grey whose total of 38.2 included 5.2 cross-country time penalties.

Fourth in their older lightweight working hunter class at Dublin the previous Sunday, Sarah Ennis and OnceUponATime led after dressage (25.9) and remained in front despite being a second over the time show jumping. However, they dropped to second with 15.2 cross-country time penalties.

Smith brought up his double in the eight-runner EI110 where he completed on his highly-impressive Rosie Gomes-awarded dressage score of 17.5 penalties with his wife Jenny’s ISH gelding You Neek (by Diamond Roller). Last year’s Dublin five-year-old young event horse champion was recording a fifth win in six EI starts, his third at this level. With the addition of six cross-country time penalties, James O’Haire finished second on Silk Chiffon (33).

There was just half a point between Smith on CJO Kann Surprise (31) and Johnny Steele with Somerville Springheeled after dressage in the three-runner EI110 and both were a second over the time show jumping. However, Smith retired his mount following a stop across the country at the birch box (fence 13), leaving Steele clear to claim the win with John Simpson’s ISH gelding, a home-bred eight-year-old by Uskerty Diamond Lad.

Katie Robinson and the eight-year-old Landenco mare Ophelia Cruise were a second over the time in the show jumping arena but that didn’t prevent the pair recording their third Junior win of the year, their second at EI110 level.

As fierce but friendly rivalry continues in the EI110 (Amateur) ranks in the Northern Region, the reigning national champions at this level, Nichola Wray and Dylan AKA Springhill Showman, recorded their seventh success of the season on Saturday, seeing off four rivals in the process.