LAST Sunday’s fourth leg of the Berts Properties Eventing Starter Series, run by the Western Region of Eventing Ireland, was held at Tubberbride Stables where the numbers competing in the league classes were bolstered by those making a final bid to qualify for the performance Irish Draught championship at Balmoral Show.

Given the venue, the course builder for the day was, naturally enough, Richard Kerins whose track for the series classes comprised six show jumping fences, followed by seven cross-country obstacles (the Balmoral contenders jumped a mix of nine fences). Noeleen Kerins judged the jumping phase, but this was for errors only - unlike at Milchem seven days earlier when competitors were surprised to find that phase being marked for jump, rhythm and fluency, scope, etc as it will be on finals’ day.

Caroline Moran and Philip Scott judged the Balmoral qualifiers between them but, as they only had the flat work phase to assess in the other classes, they did these individually.

Eleven combinations came before Moran in the Derryronane Stud five-year-old section, where her winners on 60.2, Duncan McFadyen and the previously-qualified The Ring Of Diamonds, dropped to fourth with four jumping penalties. This left Olivia Chamberlain in first place on 59.7 with the David Harrison-bred Irish Sport Horse Mosstown Mac An Rí (Vivant van de Heffinck - Mosstown Louise, by Luidam).

The bay is a full-brother to the mare Mosstown Teensy who, ridden by Britain’s Alfie Bradstock, finished 10th in the consolation class for six-year-olds at Lanaken last September, having started the season internationally with two wins and numerous placings at Vejer de la Frontera.

Class sponsor Liam Lynskey will be making a bid to hold on to some of the prize money on finals’ day as his DS Zelensky (Forlee - Caluna G, by Cartini) also recorded a clear round to finish second on 59.2. Lynskey owns and bred the ISH gelding in partnership with Matt Gordon, whose daughter Hannah was on board the bay.

As the third-placed pairing of Joyce Veld and Dundrum Candy Cruise (58.7) were also previously-qualified, the remaining two tickets on offer went to Christopher Whyte, who finished fifth on Lowhill Sogo (55.9), and Barry McCormack, who was a place behind on 54.2 with the ISH mare CHS Tilly (Conthargos - Unique Boutique, by Harlequin du Carel).

Moran also judged the Drumhowan Stud six-year-old class, which was contested by just three starters, all of whom qualified.

Despite four jumping penalties, Shauna Heslin held on to win on a score of 54 with the Traditional ISH mare Bofin Lorelle (Cornfield Prince - Lady Laurel, by Noras Cruise Away). With clean jumping sheets, Luke Corcoran finished second on Emmett’s Rose (51), while Christopher Whyte placed third on Monbeg Crystal (50.5).

Four-year-olds

Philip Scott’s day of judging started at the reasonable hour of 9am with the Sligo Candy Boy four-year-old class, where he was eased into the role as there were just five starters, one of whom was competing hors concours, so the other four all qualified. The only clear round was recorded by the flat phase winner on 44.5, Edel Whyte with the home-bred ISH gelding Sleehaun Dreamer (Manninard Abel - Shapes of Water, by Loughehoe Guy). The other tickets went to Lillian Walsh on the Connemara gelding Dowagh Star (38.5), a dun son of Caherlistrane Bay, Tara Esler with the traditionally-bred ISH mare Coolin Lady C (36.5) and Shauna Heslin with the ISH gelding My Candy Boy (28).

Sunday’s winner of the Sea Warrior Sea Supplements best turned-out award was Sarah Curley with the 16-year-old West Coast Cavalier mare Tiger Bay. They headed Scott’s scores in the 17-strong Milchem Equestrian Ponies class on 50.5, but picked up eight jumping penalties and dropped out of the placings.

Laura Whyte won on the already-qualified Primrose Pumkins Pondi (50.5), while the qualifying tickets went to Elisa O’Connor with Kelly’s Glory (50), Becky Scott with Rocklawn Maximus (48.5), Hannah Gordon riding Blackfort Major Melody (48) and Sophia Harding with Foilagoul Blondie Lady (48).

With his interest in racing, Scott would have appreciated a larger entry than four in the Treo Eile thoroughbred class, where the already-qualified combination of Sofie Walshe and the 16-year-old gelding Kinsau (Indian Danehill - Adonia, by Beneficial) topped his scores on 59.5. The only other clear was recorded by the fourth-placed pairing of Julie Spring and the unraced nine-year-old Watar gelding Vincent (47).

Including one combination competing hors concours, there were 10 starters in the Gerry Daniels Timber Harvesting and Callatra Stables Open, where the flat work phase was judged as a dressage test not on potential as in the other classes.

Here, the winners on 141.5 were the previously-qualified Caroline Devine and the 16-year-old Connemara mare Rockwell Bonnie, a daughter of Maghera Fadda Lad. The qualifying tickets went to Niamh Ruane with the 10-year-old Connemara gelding Clonberne Moon Light (139) and, on 137.5, to Mia Gately on the 22-year-old ISH gelding Skyhills Cavalier plus Barry McCormack riding the eight-year-old ISH mare Cazadee.

A full report on the Balmoral qualifiers can be found on page 76, but four combinations secured tickets here for the final of this series being held at the Galway Equestrian Centre on Easter Monday, April 6th.

These were the first and second in the four and five-year-old class, the Maria McNamara-ridden Shanbally Pippalo Pet (110.5) and the Nadine Dunne-partnered Woody Bounce (109.1), and the first and third from the six-year-old and upwards class, Gortfree Lakeside Lad, who scored an impressive 129.9 under Becky Scott, and the Victoria Clarke-ridden Whitegate Zidane (116.5). The second-placed combination of Amy Grady and Murrisk Paudie (119) were already qualified for the final.