THE Western Region of Eventing Ireland will be hoping that the good weather they have mainly enjoyed at Milchem Equestrian for their combined training league continues when their arena eventing Starter Series commences at the Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre on Sunday next, March 1st.

We do have to acknowledge, however, that conditions weren’t ideal for everyone as the series concluded last Sunday with a bit of thunder, lightning and hail sending those not actively engaged at the time running for cover.

The Plusvital series has been run in tandem with this competition at Milchem, where her win on Sunday with Regina Hoctor’s Ballycondon OBOS (OBOS Quality 004 - Corlina, by Corland) moved Grace Mahon into a one-point lead in the nationwide CT100 league. In common with all seven others in the class, Mahon, who is coached on the flat by Heike Holstein, picked up penalties in the show jumping phase to complete on a total of 33 with the seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare.

Milchem-based Becky Scott is now lying third in the league with her own FS Stormborn (34), a six-year-old ISH mare by Lagans OBOS Quality whose exploits over the past few weeks, which include Sunday’s second-place finish on 34 penalties, have seen her rider achieve the role of leading owner in the series. Karen McGrath slotted into third on her seven-year-old ISH gelding Monocular (34.25).

Competitive

Visitors Lucy Ferris and Maya Byrne locked horns once again in the 11-runner CT90, where Byrne took the lead on 25.5 penalties with Tranquil Master following Vida Tansey’s judging of the dressage phase.

However, Byrne and the 11-year-old Kings Master gelding lowered one of the fences on the Ralph Conroy-built track to present the win on 26.25 to Lucy Ferris on board her mother Mary’s 10-year-old Connemara gelding How Ya Sammy (Woodfield Sammy - Robe Cheeky Lass, by Robe Earl).

In common with Ferris, Jed Dillon, a member of the Ballinasloe Branch of the Irish Pony Club, also left all the poles intact to finish third on Jacinta Colohan’s 11-year-old skewbald gelding Dartans Jumping Jack Flash (32.75).

On their dressage scores, two other Milchem-based riders dominated the placings in this final round of the CT80 league, with Scotland-born Duncan McFadyen comfortably claiming the honours on Mr Womanizer aka Murphy Lucky (27.75). This four-year-old ISH gelding by Womanizer was bred by Jacqueline Murphy out of the Coevers Diamond Boy mare Coevers Dock.

The bay is owned by EasyFix’s Niall Earls who, himself, bred the five-year-old thoroughbred gelding Seaniecon (Capri - Abigail Lynch, by Oscar), winner last Wednesday week of an extended three-mile, one-furlong maiden hurdle at Hereford.

Back here, Jason Doerflinger finished second and third with Milchem Margo (30) and Shotgun (30.75). All three top-placed horses are being aimed at the Starter Series, while the two riders have more young horses to produce through the spring and summer months.

Now completed west of the Shannon, the Plusvital series returns to CoilÓg for the final two legs and it will be interesting to see who chases points at the Co Kildare venue.