MOMO Sheehy and her father Morgan are giving Tyrella 4 a miss today but do so on the back of three lengthy journeys north to John and Hannah Corbett’s wonderful Co Down estate which produced wins for part-time student Momo at Tyrella 2 and 3 on TMX Herby.

On Saturday, the 19-year-old Innishannon rider and the 13-year-old Zirocco Blue VDL gelding landed the EI115 (Open) on a total of 35.8 penalties having recorded one of only three show jumping clears in the 10-runner field but picking up 1.6 and 9.2 show jumping and cross-country time penalties.

Molly Evans won the Rosi Gomes-judged dressage phase on 22.5 with Wellan Graffiti but picked up eight time penalties over the Adam Stephenson-designed and built cross-country track while the Irish Sport Horse mare lowered two show jumping fences for a total of 38.5.

Locally-based Jim Newsam had a good day and here finished third on the traditionally-bred Tullybee Renegade whose total of 43.3 included 12.8 cross-country time penalties.

Worth the journey

“We are so grateful to the Northern Region for holding these events,” said Morgan Sheehy. “Dora (Beacom) and her team have been absolutely brilliant – without them we would not have had a spring season. It’s been worth the journey up which would be five hours in the two-horse van or six and a half in the lorry. Each time, we left home around 8am on the Friday, stayed overnight and got back home about 7.30pm on Saturday.

“Momo has three older horses to ride this year and we’ll see out this half of the season competing at the internationals at Ballindenisk and Millstreet. She would love to be selected for the Young Riders team but we will have to wait and see how things develop over the summer. If not, I think it would do her good to compete abroad and we will look at things nearer the time.”