NOT accusing anyone but someone really upset the weather gods in the Northern Region last Saturday as wind and rain battered the lovely venue of Glenpatrick where, nevertheless, Britt and Anne Megahey welcomed all with a smile.

As ever, the grounds were in perfect condition and the fences on the Adam Stevenson-designed tracks were beautifully presented thanks to the Megaheys, Sean Laverty and, prior to her departure to her native Poland, Mags Oleszek.

Show jumping took place in the all-weather arena near the main house but not all found the move away from grass that much of a benefit because, as soon as that phase started at 10am over the Aaron McCusker-designed tracks, the arena party was kept busy picking up poles.

As the day went on, and the wind and rain went on, it wasn’t surprising to see riders withdraw some horses/ponies.

Jack O’Haire and Steven Smith had four rides apiece and, while the latter partnered two winners to O’Haire’s one, the Co Kildare raider comfortably landed the day’s highest graded class, the EI110 (Open), on Penelope Guinness’s home-bred mare Jamaica Rose.

The eight-year-old Pointilliste bay was competing at an event for the first time since finishing 11th of 28 in the CCI3*-L at Millstreet where 13.2 show jumping penalties dropped her right down the leaderboard. Here, second after dressage, she was two seconds over the time in the show jumping arena but left all the fences up before beating the clock across the country to win on 29.8. Erin McClernon finished second in this seven-runner class on Seapatrick Beachball (43).

David O’Connor led the nine-runner EI110 after dressage on Twice The Spice (26 penalties) but this combination was eliminated in the show jumping arena following a surprising parting of the ways at the first fence.

Steven Smith was then left in the lead with the six-year-old ISH mare Sinetta (by Cevin Z) who went on to complete on her first-phase score (28.8). Having taken the ride back from his father James, Jack O’Haire finished second on Silk Chiffon whose total of 34.4 included 4.4 cross-country penalties. The only other combination to jump clear over the fixed fences, but with a small number of time penalties, was Gemma Esler on the unraced thoroughbred Punters Dream (36.8).

Pillar to post

Thirty-two combinations appeared before the EI100 dressage judge Lucinda Webb-Graham. Three of these competed hors concours, one was eliminated show jumping after which two were withdrawn. There was one retirement and one elimination on the final phase.

Meanwhile, Steven Smith recorded a pillar-to-post success on the EI newcomer Wee Biscuit 2 who completed on his dressage score (21 penalties) as did his second-placed stable-companion CJO Lux Tangoed (27.8) who had finished third at The Clare on her only previous start.

The nine-year-old ISH gelding Wee Biscuit 2 is a son of Union Jack Van De Zuuthoeve who was bred by Barbara Kearns out of her King Of Mourne mare Kitty. Caroline Overend and Carla Leitch’s CJO Tangoed is a five-year-old Je t’Aime Flamenco half-sister to connections’ Kannan gelding CJO Kann Surprise.

“Sinetta is owned by her breeders, Eric and Judith McClelland,” commented Smith. “She is a half-sister to the German team horse Black Ice (Vechta gelding ex Caroline McCaldin) who they are going over to support at the European championships in Blenheim. This mare has progressed throughout the season and it was nice to secure a win at Glenpatrick. It’s always a pleasure to compete here as the Megaheys pay great attention to detail. The courses were well-dressed and educational while having the show jumping on a surface really helps weatherproof the event.”

The Smith Brothers’ Eventing yard also struck in the four-runner EI110 (J) where, despite 12 show jumping penalties, their working pupil, Lee Bloomfield, recorded a runaway success on Virginia McGrath’s home-bred thoroughbred gelding Handsome Starr, a 13-year-old bay by September Storm. Here, the dressage leaders on 25.3, Caitlin Woods and Greygrove Delight, show jumped clear but retired across the country.

In the six-runner EI110 (Amateur), judged by Coreen Abernethy, one rider was on 31.3 penalties after dressage, four were on 31.5 and one was on 37. None remained on those marks, Nichola Wray faring best when 3.2 cross-country penalties gave her a winning total of 34.7 on Dylan AKA Springhill Showman, marking their eighth win of the campaign.

The only other combination to jump clear across the country was Ciarrai Rice and Lady J, who lowered one of the coloured poles and had time penalties in both jumping phases to finish second on 43.5. Disappointingly for landowner Britt Megahey, jumping and time penalties over the coloured poles and fixed fences put paid to his chances of a home success on R Showman (77.5).