NEARLY 70 combinations started in the youth classes over the weekend, the vast majority of them at Tattersalls Ireland on Sunday when Tristan Kelly, the sole male young rider to strike over the two days, landed the EI90 (P).

The Co Wicklow competitor did so on Maria Tyrrell’s much-minded 18-year-old Connemara gelding Fiona’s Fionn (Monaghanstown Fionn – Gortnaphisey Fiona, by Carrentuber Lad) who, having his third start of the campaign, led the eight-runner class throughout despite having a pole down show jumping for a total of 30.8 penalties.

On her first EI start since winning team silver and individual bronze at the European Junior eventing championships in Sweden last month, Co Offaly’s Maeve Deverell landed the Yeomanstown Stud EI110 (J) on her dressage score (31) with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Annaharvey Rozendal (Radolin – Culnahailie, by Silver Wonder.

Owned and bred by the rider’s father Sam, the 13-year-old chesnut was left in front when the Chloe Walsh-partnered dressage winner on 29.8, Enniskerry Masterpiece, was eliminated following refusals at three fences early on the cross-country track.

Co Kildare’s Gloria Queally rode two of the four runners, all Connemaras, in the EI110 (P), leading from start to finish on Rolline O’Callaghan’s mare Longwood Laura (I Love You Melody – Lucky Star 2nd, by Currrachmore Cashel) despite lowering one of the coloured poles and picking up 8.4 cross-country time penalties for a total of 33.7.

The top six in the TRM EI100 (P) completed on their first phase scores with Co Wexford’s Sarah Pettit claiming the win on 29.5 with her mother Marguerite’s 15-year-old Connemara gelding Ballyerk Black Beauty (Joyces Cuckoo – Ballamore Castle Ellen Blue Jean, by Windy’s Boy).

Saoirse Carty finished second in this 17-strong class on the six-year-old Connemara gelding Culmore Apple Jack (31) whose clear cross-country time was nearer the optimum than that of Ana Goodrich riding the 11-year-old Irish Sport Pony gelding Broadleas Chase (also 31).

Co Antrim-based Goodrich went on to land the 11-runner Hoofprints Innovations EI100 (J) on her dressage score (28.5) with Carole Young’s 14-year-old Traditonal ISH gelding Lisnamuck What A Cracker (Cheeky Bobby Sparrow – Meancog, by Monashee Mountain).

Goodrich could more easily have competed at Moyallen where, despite a pole down show jumping for a total of 35.8, Zara Reid recorded an all-the-way win in the four-runner EI00 (J) on her father Gary’s 10-year-old ISH gelding The Doctors Touch (Indoctro – Watervalley Annas Last Touch, by Touchdown).

Also at the Richardson family’s new venue, Tilley Tumility led throughout to win the four-runner EI110 (J) on her mother Lisa’s eight-year-old TIH gelding Rock Impulse (Pointilliste – Huggingstown Imp) while Kitty Cullen recorded an uncontested in the EI110 (P) with Lisa Donnan’s 10-year-old Connemara gelding Greenaun Russel (Carracanada River – Greenaun Heather, by Castleside JJ Junior).

South Co Dublin’s Lucy Ferris, who also rode at Tattersalls on Sunday, made all to comfortably win the four-runner EI100 (P) at Moyallen with her mother Mary’s 10-year-old Connemara gelding How Ya Sammy (Woodfield Sammy – Robe Cheeky Lass, by Robe Earl). With a stop across the country on the Connemara mare Duncarbery Cascade , Ferris was well-beaten into second by her only rival in the EI90 (P), Darcy Turley on her mother Sarah’s 19-year-old Welsh gelding Budore Mystic Legend.