THE efficiency of the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland was displayed once again last weekend.

Forewarned about Storm Dave, they made a call on Friday morning to postpone Saturday’s planned one-day at Tyrella to Monday. Then, despite that being a Bank Holiday, they had a full team of officials and volunteers in place to ensure the safe running of another excellent event at John and Hannah Corbett’s Co Down estate.

To no great surprise, Andrew Napier, the Region’s new cross-country course designer, produced far more technical tracks than those jumped at Tyrella 1.

There were more eliminations and retirements at the higher levels than two weeks previously, many of the problems coming up early, and a surprising number of withdrawals. The going in the dressage field was on the soft side but, thanks to a strong cold wind, was good on the cross-country course and better than expected in the show jumping arenas.

With so many horses to compete and no other affiliated event taking place over the weekend, Co Carlow-based Welsh international John Tilley had little choice but to undertake another early start to Tyrella, where his efforts paid off with two wins and two other good completions from his four rides.

Tilley recorded his first victory in the 13-runner EI115 (Open), where he stepped up a place from Tyrella 1 on board the Dutch Warmblood gelding Licence To Cooley (Balou du Rouet Z - Utah Jambo M, by Cavalier), who is entered in the EI120 at Lisgarvan tomorrow before being aimed at the CCI4*-S at Ballindenisk.

Despite adding 3.6 cross-country time penalties to the winning dressage score (20.2) he was awarded by David Lee, Tilley and the 12-year-old scored comfortably from Joseph Murphy on Calmaro, whose total of 29.6 included two time penalties over the fixed fences and a pole down show jumping.

Penalties

Also picking up four show jumping penalties to finish third with Karolita O (31), Suzanne Hagan had earlier landed the three-runner EI115 (Advanced) with the 14-year-old OBOS Quality 004 gelding OBOS Take One, whose total of 36.2 included two cross-country time penalties.

On a weekend when her brother Josh landed his first Easter Festival success as a professional jockey, Carla Williamson recorded a first EI115 win when seeing off 14 rivals on her mother Janet’s eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Powers (Colandro - Wannadou, by Cardano), her mount at last season’s European Junior eventing championships.

The 17-year-old Co Meath rider and the bay were lying second following Vanda Stewart’s judging of the dressage phase and, despite picking up four show jumping penalties, their completion score of 32.2 left them with a commanding advantage over the second-placed pairing of Jonny Steele and Somerville Springheeled (47.2), who added 12 penalties in the show jumping phase.

Williamson has Powers entered in the EI115 at Lisgarvan tomorrow and in the CCI3*-S at Ballindenisk. Felicity Ward, who led after dressage on Monday with EPA Orlaith (27.7), retired following two refusals at fence five (the birch).

Tilley brought up his Monday double in the 30-runner EI100 on Carol Gee and Deirdre Lanigan’s eight-year-old ISH gelding Fernhill Quantum (Colandro - Mrs Buttons, by Mister Mat), completing on the winning dressage score of 24.3 penalties he was awarded by Joanne Cairns.

The Kilkenny International Bloodstock rider has chosen not to make a third trip north to Tyrella next Saturday, preferring to head over to Co Limerick the following day where, at Crecora, Fernhill Quantum holds an entry in the EI110. Sarah Ennis had three rides in this class, faring best in second with the six-year-old ISH mare Fenyas Email (27.8).

Also at this level, Samantha Dale made it two-for-two for the season when, despite 12 show jumping penalties, she won the 15-runner EI100 (Amateur) on the 15-year-old Calgot Hero gelding Keonan Hero; Tilley Tumilty landed the 15-runner EI100 (J) on the traditionally-bred eight-year-old gelding Rock Impulse; and, on board the 10-year-old gelding Coppenagh Russel, Jessica Coveney saw off her sole rival in the EI100 (P) class.