THERE’s a lot happening on the wider stage right now but, as far competition in the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland is concerned, all’s right with the world as Steven Smith got his 2026 season off to a good start with one win and two placings from five rides at Tyrella 1 last Saturday.

Success for the Gilford rider came in the 26-strong EI110 (Open), where he completed on his Rosie Gomes-awarded dressage score of 19.5 penalties with Susan O’Shea’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Tullaher Paudie (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan - Tullaher Luxpat, by Lux Z). Rebekah McKinstry and HVL Jackpot were the winners’ nearest challengers throughout, despite lowering one of the coloured poles for a total of 24.8.

While some southern competitors travelled up to Tyrella on Friday, John Tilley left Borris at 1am on Saturday and was rewarded for his early start with one win and two placings from his five rides. The Welsh international struck in the 25-runner EI110 thanks to his double clear within the time on board Kilkenny International Sporthorses’ six-year-old ISH gelding Borris Cornet Coole (Castlefield Cornet - Miss Too Coole, by Warrenstown You 2).

Four show jumping penalties proved expensive for Clare Abbott and MT Kenobis Touch, who led after the Lucinda Webb-Graham-judged dressage phase, but had to settle for second on 25. On their first start in an affiliated event as a combination, Ian Cassells finished third (33.5) with BT Just Special, having had a pole down show jumping before picking up 3.2 cross-country time penalties. Tilley was eliminated following a cross-country fall in this class with Cooley Quickfire, who was on 26.3.

Also at EI110 level, there were wins in the 17-runner Junior class for Maeve Deverell and her father Sam’s 13-year-old home-bred ISH gelding Annaharvey Dunowen who completed on their dressage score; for Tadgh O’Haire and his father James’s 12-year-old skewbald gelding Ballinagore Hero who led the five-runner pony class throughout, despite the addition of four show jumping penalties; and for Britt Megahey and R Showman who held on to beat their five rivals in the Amateur class, although adding show jumping and cross-country time penalties to their winning dressage score.