MICHAEL Ryan and the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse Tullibards Bennys Rainbow emerged victorious in commanding style in the EI115 at Ballindenisk (3) on Sunday.
Ryan posted a dressage score of 30.0 and maintained it throughout to climb from second into first for long-term owners, Carol and Tom Henry. It was the pair’s second outing of the season, having come second at EI110 level the week previous at Clyda 1. By Tullibards Bennys Legacy, the chesnut was bred by Aidan McEvoy out of Barrahill Beauty (Don Juan De La Bouverie).
Sam Watson and the seven-year-old Ballybolger Goldman (Tullabeg Fusion x Warcraft), on whom he was second at both Ballindenisk International 1 and Thoresby Park, had the leading dressage score of 25.7 but faults on both jumping courses - including 3.2 time penalties and four jumping faults - led them to eventual sixth on 32.9.
In second was rising star Molly O’Neill, riding the consistent Muckridge Quick Step (O.B.O.S Quality 004 x Sirsan) who delivered clean performances throughout to finish on 31.6, just a hair behind Ryan. This pair were also second at EI115 level the week previous at Clyda.
Third place went to Daragh Byrne and Teachers Pet (SHB), who also maintained a clean sheet to end on their dressage score of 32.0, as did Casey Webb and Ballygreenan Break Point (ISH), who followed closely in fourth with a final score of 32.3. In fifth was the experienced Elizabeth Power riding Dassett Fortune (ISH), who began with a solid 31.1 in dressage however cross-country time penalties added 1.6 points to her tally.
“Peter Fell put up a great track,” Michael Ryan said. “It jumped a little bit bigger than it walked with a couple of really hard combinations, I’d say it was one of his best events.
“I’ve only got the horse out twice this year because I’ve been away a lot training kids and at show jumping shows. I bought him as a three-year-old from Hans Kuehnle and he is a very good jumper, so it was a 50/50 call on whether he’d go back eventing this year or not. The heart was saying event him and the money side was saying jump him, but I think I’d better stick to what I know best!
“He’s a phenomenal horse, he’s probably one of the nicest horses I’ve ever had. I haven’t pushed him at all in his life ever because I feel there is an Olympics in this horse. He has no weak phase so if we can get to keep him, we might get to see the dream come true. But obviously, if that dream is alive there’s going to be people interested in him so there’s a lot to consider.
“We will probably do two or three internationals before the end of the season and Lisgarvan is on the cards. The horse will tell me where he wants to go basically!” Ryan added.
EI110
Molly O’Neill, this time riding Muckridge Ambassador (ISH), also appeared in the top six at EI110 level in the closely fought A section ultimately won by Sarah Ennis and the promising six-year-old DS Are You Calypso (DS Are You With Me x Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet), who was bred by Liam Lynskey and is owned by Joan O’Connor. With a superb dressage score of 28.0 and faultless jumping and cross-country rounds, Ennis finished on that first-phase score to secure the win.
Both Rebekah McKinstry riding HVL Jack Pot (ISH) and John Tilley aboard Monbeg Crystal Clear (ISH) ended on identical final scores of 28.8, having also completed all three phases without penalties. On countback, McKinstry was awarded second place, with Tilley taking third.
Daniel Alderson and the athletic Seafield Celt (ISH) followed in fourth. A slight hiccup in the show jumping phase added 0.4 time penalties to an otherwise clean slate, bringing their final score to 29.7.
Fifth place went to Patrick Byrne and KBS King Puck (ISH), who finished on their dressage score of 31.8 and in sixth place was Molly O’Neill on 32.3 after a clean sweep.
Competition was also tight in the EI110 B where Sean Looney and Lawrence Patterson’s Bonmahon Triomphant (L’Arc De Triomphe x Royal Concorde) claimed a well-deserved victory with a dressage test earning them 30.5, and clear rounds in both jumping phases. As the name suggests, the winner was bred by Richie Fitzgerald.
The runner-up position went to Ciara Power who, riding Stonehavens Dreaming (ISH), delivered a solid dressage performance with a score of 29.8, but 2.0 time penalties in the show jumping phase nudged her final total to 31.8.
In third was Steven Smith and Lachain Lance (ISH), who finished on their dressage score of 32.0.
Fourth went to Sadhbh Bolger aboard Grantstown Imperial (ISH), another combination to finish on their dressage mark of 32.5, while Fraser Duffy and Neverquitdreaming (TB) claimed fifth, marred only slightly by 0.4 time penalties in the cross-country phase to finish on 33.4.
EI100
In the EI100 A, Nicky Roncoroni and Carrigshawn Ebony (HHS Cornet x Cult Hero) clinched victory on a final score of 25.9. The pair impressed with a standout dressage performance followed by faultless jumping rounds and only 1.6 time penalties on cross-country. The winner was bred in Co Wexford by Jack Warner and is owned by Janie Roncoroni.
Hot on her heels in second was Ellen Douglas aboard the striking Rock Festival (ISH), who produced one of the few completely clean jumping performances of the class to finishing with 28.0.
Third place went to Denis Coakley and Rossmount Point (ISH) who also finished on their dressage mark of 29.3. Louise Duffy and two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo (TB) took fourth with a polished performance and a final score of 30.0.
Marlieze Krielaart and Lucy Cruising (ISH) started strongly with a dressage score of 27.8, but 2.4 time penalties on cross-country saw them slip to fifth on 30.2.
In the EI100 B, Louise Bloomer and her own Thoroughbred gelding Ballydrummond (by Valirann) claimed top honours with a strong dressage score of 29.0 to which they had nothing to add.
Just behind in second was Sean Wrynn and GLS Cruising Home (ISH), who also completed on their first phase score of 29.5. Padraig Flanagan piloted Larchill Clurachan (ISH) to third place with their dressage score of 30.3. Charlie Boardman and Belline Candy Vivendi (ISH) were fourth on 35.8 followed by Daragh Byrne and Swatch Millie (ISH) in fifth and Caitie Slater aboard Belline LEB Noble Warrior (ISH) in sixth.