NEWTOWNARDS show jumper and Queen’s student Jackson Laing introduced himself to the wider equestrian world when competing in the Bluegrass Flexi Eventing Series at The Meadows in the early part of the year and more formally with eventing since mid-August.

He had two rides, Doon Da Vinci and GFL Lynara Hot Topic, in the EI90 at both Hazeldene 3 and Finvoy, showing marked improvement to be placed with both mounts at the latter venue, and partnered the same two to finish first and sixth in the 23-runner EI90 at Glenpatrick last Saturday.

The minor placing was filled by Lyndon Steele’s Irish Sport Horse mare GFL Lynara Hot Topic, a five-year-old Future Trend bay who completed on her dressage score (31.3 penalties) as she had done on her previous two starts. The win came on board Carol Murdoch’s well-known working hunter pony Doon Da Vinci, a seven-year-old Connemara gelding by Newgrange Lad who, too, was having his third EI start and likewise finished on his first-phase score (24.3).

Leading after dressage, Katie McKee looked set to bring up a hat-trick of victories on Water Paint in the seven-runner EI90 (Amateur) but the 10-year-old skewbald gelding lowered a pole show jumping, which saw the combination finish second (31.3). Moving up to take the win on her flat work mark (28.3) was Orla Sheehan on her eight-year-old Armed Guard gelding Bear With Us, with whom she had been on the winning Irish team in the Celtic Challenge at Scone Palace just over a week earlier.

There were wins on their dressage scores for the in-form pair of Emily Turley (15), with the 18-year-old Welsh gelding Budore Mystic Legend in the nine-strong EI90 (P), and for Ella McCrory (14) riding the 17-year-old gelding The Alders Bobby Dazzler (17) who brought up a second win in five starts at EI80 level against 13 rivals.

The 2025 Northern Region season concludes today at Vesey Lodge but some may well keep their younger horses and ponies in work for the DAFM Development Series combined training competition at The Meadows on Saturday next, September 13th. Entries close at noon on Wednesday.