CARLOW-based John Tilley took the win in the EI110 (Open) at the second event held by Will Kearney at Frankfort Stud this year. Riding Grand Espoir, with whom he won the EI110 National Championships in 2024, they put in the fastest cross-country round in the class, which allowed him to hang on to his dressage lead despite incurring four faults in the show jumping phase. There was a margin of almost 20 penalties between Tilley and the second-placed combination of Momo Sheehy and Da Vinci, while Daniel Alderson and Elegant Philly finished third.

“I was over the moon with Grand Espoir,” said Tilley after his win. “He spent last season in the UK with his owners, but he’s now back at Kilkenny International to campaign this year. ‘Arthur’ is an exceptional talent. I’ve competed up to EI115 on him and been placed in numerous two-stars, so I’m really looking forward to stepping him up a level in the next few weeks.”

Tilley also finished second, fourth and seventh in the 35-runner EI100, which was won by the in-form Godfrey Gibbons and the Ames’ Belline JM Golden Legacy. Second after dressage on 28.3, they incurred no further penalties to overtake first phase leaders Tilley and Fernhill Quantam, who rolled two poles in the show jumping. Stephen Smith was another to have multiple rides in the top 10, finishing third and fifth with Le Barantula and Royal Fashion respectively. Each of the six-year-olds added only a few cross-country time faults to their dressage scores of 30.3 and 28.8.

Relegate

Three of the six starters in the Treo Eile Thoroughbred EI100 failed to complete, but Amy Griffith emerged as best of those who did. She was one of few to complete both jumping phases on a clean sheet, adding nothing to her dressage score of 40.3 to relegate Cathal Daniels and Selkie, who scored a slightly lower 40 in the first phase, into second place.

The EI100 (Amateur) was won by local rider Joan Sinnott and the 18-year-old Newtown Wilson, another combination to post a double clear, while Eabha White won the EI100(P) on Carrickford Fast Boy. Tadgh O’Haire took the top spot in the EI100 (J) riding the experienced Christopher Robin, when the combination finished on their excellent dressage score of 20.3. Two further combinations added no jumping penalties in this section, namely Isabel Byrne and Hilton Ka Boom in second, and Morgan Leahy and the Connemara Eitherard Lad in third.