THERE was a small entry for Sunday’s first round of the Eventing Ireland Western Region’s autumn combined training series at Milchem Equestrian and, given the morning’s very heavy rain, it wasn’t too surprising that some combinations failed to meet their engagements.

However, the first class at Ralph Conroy’s Tynagh venue didn’t start until 11am and the weather picked up remarkably throughout the day. Seven riders went home with a win to their credit, some scoring quite comprehensively, with the three EI80 classes attracting the largest fields.

In the opening non-restricted division, seven combinations came before dressage judge Marian Slattery whose winner on 34.5 penalties was Milchem-based Becky Scott with The Ring Of Diamonds. However, the four-year-old traditionally-bred Road To Happiness gelding picked up four jumping penalties to drop to second.

This left the way clear for Lilly Haverty to claim the win on her flat work mark (35.25) with the Irish Sport Horse pony Barnaboy Smart Pants, a 138cm bay gelding by Caherlistrane Sammy. The eight-year-old bay, who has amassed 65 Show Jumping Ireland points in the past two seasons, was bred in Co Galway by Matthew Crehan out of the Tynagh Miller mare Rookhill Pearl.

There were three starters in both the Riding Club and Pony Club classes at this level. In the latter, the only clear round was recorded by the winners, East Galway Hunt Branch member Jed Dillon and the skewbald gelding Dartans Jumping Jack Flash.

Tynagh’s Regina Fahy likewise completed on her dressage score (35) to win the Riding Club section on the ISH gelding Stoneman Tiger Moth, an eight-year-old chesnut by the Connemara stallion Kilberan Mike.

There were just two combined training classes at EI90 level, the open division being won on his excellent dressage score of 27.75 by Oisin McDonagh on Monty with another Tynagh member, Kayleigh Starr, claiming the Riding Club honours on board Hugo (33.75).

No one managed to jump a clear round in the open EI100 class, Maryellen Murphy faring best when picking up eight jumping penalties for a total of 39.5 on the ISH gelding Glencairn Scully, a 14-year-old bay by Tabasco van Erkekom, who was placed on two of his four EI100 (J) outings this year.

There was an uncontested win on her dressage score (28.75) in the Pony Club section for Tynagh Branch member Maeve Connolly and the ISH mare Barnaboy Shauna, a nine-year-old bay by Cottage Fire.

Two riders chose to do dressage only, Marian Slattery awarding her winning score (31.75) to Aine O’Callaghan on board the Connemara gelding Killeaney Silver, a four-year-old son of the recently-deceased Silver Shadow. Five riders over two classes chose not to appear before Slattery and do show jumping only, the sole clear being recorded at EI90 level by Jack O’Shaughnessy on Phil.