JOHN Tilley and Grand Espoir (by Diarado) retained their remarkable strike rate of winning every class they’ve contested this season, despite challenging conditions at the second Eventing Ireland fixture hosted by Hillcrest.
The combination added only 1.6 cross-country time faults to their dressage score of 28.9 to finish almost 15 marks ahead of runners-up Emma Egan and Son of Montague (by Womanizer) in the EI115 (Open) on their first run at this level since 2024.
Deputising for the injured Cameron Kiernan, Michael McNally topped the 13-runner EI115 riding Kratos CAL M2S (by Ulysses M2S). Despite a pole on the ground in the show jumping phase, they held on to their dressage lead to finish on 30.1.
“I was delighted to step in for Cameron,” said McNally, who sourced the horse as a four-year-old. “Kratos is a horse with an exceptionally bright future, and Hillcrest was his first run at EI115 level. I was very pleased with him across country. I gave him a positive ride, and he answered the questions brilliantly, showing plenty of intelligence, bravery and rideability. The plan for the remainder of the season is to continue his education and, if all goes well, aim him towards Mondial du Lion.”
Dominic Furnell claimed both of the remaining podium positions, when Ballycahane Pocahontas (by Pointilliste) improved from her third-place finish at Hillcrest I to take second this time round, adding only time penalties to her dressage score to finish on 37.4.
Her stablemate SHL Donatello (by Orestus) knocked one show jump and also incurred time faults to finish third on 46.3 on his run of 2026. The only completion in the EI110 (Open) won, and that came from Casey Webb and Nelgara Lucy Locket.
Ennis wins with Ordonnay
Sarah Ennis led from the outset to win the EI110 riding last year’s Michael Leonard Champion, her own KWPN seven-year-old gelding Ordonnay (by Jardonnay VDL).
They added just 1.2 time penalties in the show jumping phase to their leading dressage score of 25.8 to finish with over a fence in hand over runners-up Luca Bortolamei and Carol Gee’s Lancillotto della Malaspina (by Lindberg des Hayettes).
This combination also added 1.2 time penalties to their dressage score of 30.3, but these were incurred across country. Casey Webb and the traditionally-bred pony Happy Bo Lucky (by Road to Happiness) finished third on 32.3.
Lesley Jones and Quality Choice (by OBOS Quality) made a welcome return to the winning form which saw them top the CCI1*-Intro at Ballindenisk’s Spring International when they won the EI100.
After a less-than-ideal run cross-country run at Millstreet recently, they added just a handful of time penalties from this phase to their dressage score to finish on 30.7.
Ian Cassells was double-handed on the podium here with two Eventing Ireland first-timers in Carol Gee’s Tresor v’t Dauwhof (by El Barrone 111 Z) and Gerry Leahy’s GSA Lagan (by Lagans OBOS Quality). The former led after dressage, but incurred four faults in the show jumping phase, while the latter jumped double clear, and each finished on 30.8.
Caoimhe Kennedy made her first run with Clonshire Waveney (by the thoroughbred sire Waveney) a winning one in the EI90. They stayed on their first phase score of 28.8 to finish ahead of Caoimhe Foley and the Connemara Ashwood Buachaill in second on 32.
Having won at this level on their previous outing at Glandoran, Jonty Purcell and FHS Travolta had to settle for third here, after adding four faults to their leading dressage score of 28.5.