BRITT and Anne Megahey once again welcomed the Northern Region of Eventing Ireland to Glenpatrick last Saturday when nothing could be faulted in the presentation of the entire venue, the layout for the three disciplines and the wonderful cross-country tracks which were designed and built by the Adam Stevenson-mentored Noel Fitzpatrick.
The Smith Brothers Eventing team recorded a treble, the middle leg of which came in the EI110, where Casey Webb completed on her Rosie Gomes-awarded dressage score (23.5) with the Ann Bowe-owned and bred Happy Bo Lucky. Leading after the first phase, Nicola Ennis had to settle for second having had a fence down show jumping with HVL Air Springs (25.2).
Casey Webb and Happy Bo Lucky winning EI110 at Glenpatrick \ Anne Hughes
“It’s a pity I’m too old for the Pony Europeans!” said Casey, having guided the eight-year-old 148cm Happy Bo Lucky (Road To Happiness - Festy Breeze, by Ashfield Festy) to his first EI win. This was Webb’s fourth time to compete the traditionally-bred bay, whose dam was regularly in the placings, mainly in Amateur classes, under Bowe who partnered Saturday’s winner five times herself last season.
“That was Happy Bo Lucky’s first EI110, so he will continue at national level to gain more experience and do some 2* classes before the end of the season,” continued Webb. “He is very blood and scopey and really fun to ride.”
Webb, who had three other mounts on Sunday, finished third in the EI110 (Open), on her flat work mark, with the 10-year-old ISH mare Nelgara Lucy Locket (27.8), just behind Suzanne Hagan and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Karolita O (26.8).
Steven Smith, who rode three of the 10 runners, led throughout to win on his Vanda Stewart-awarded dressage score (23) with Susan O’Shea’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Tullaher Paudie (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan - Tullaher Luxpat, by Lux Z). He placed fourth on Sinetta (28.8) and fifth with Greenhall Gold Dust, who had a fence down show jumping for a total of 35. One combination withdrew after show jumping, while another was eliminated.
Hollie Smith and Mr Diceman winning the EI100 (Amateur) class at Glenpatrick \ Anne Hughes
Following their excellent second-place finish, on their dressage score, in the CCI1*-Intro at Millstreet the previous weekend, Hollie Smith and Mr Diceman (Ringfort Cruise - Love On The Wing, by Winged Love) made a quick re-appearance on Saturday, when they won the EI100 (Amateur). Smith and the 12-year-old ISH gelding once again completed on their first phase score (21.5), as did the runners-up, Jane Davis and her once-raced thoroughbred gelding Tiffany’s Gold (23.8).
Third win
Bushmills’ Ros Morgan recorded her third win of the year in the competitive EI110 (Amateur), where she and her 13-year-old Anglo European Studbook-registered gelding Vos Surprise (Voss - Surprise NQ, by Aerline) completed on their winning dressage score (29). This combination also competed in that CCI1*-Intro at Millstreet, where they had problems in both jumping phases.
On their seasonal debut at Hazeldene seven days earlier, Nicola Martin withdrew her Irish Draught mare Dundrum Misty Blue (Killinick Bouncer - Holy Cross Mist, by Holycross) before cross-country, despite being in the lead in the EI90 (Amateur) on her excellent dressage score of 17.5. Here, Martin again led after the flat work phase (24.8) on the Maria McHugh-bred grey, who she campaigned four times at BE90 level in Scotland last year as well as at home.
All four starters in the EI110 (Junior) erred in the show jumping phase. Ardglass’s Mya McMullan had two fences down, and picked up 0.4 of a time fault with CSF Quality Surprise (OBOS Quality 004 - Surprise Van De Somme, by Major de la Cour) but, with her winning dressage mark (23.8) and a clear cross-country round, she and the 13-year-old ISH mare claimed the win.
Jessica Rogers from Aghalee also led from start to finish in the 10-runner EI100 (Junior) on Shannaghmore Skys The Limit (Future Trend - Lighting Strikes, by Merry Mate), but here she and the seven-year-old ISH mare completed on their first phase score (30.3), as did the next four on the final leaderboard.
Victoria Grieves and the AES gelding Twister d’Euro (Euro Sometime - Tequila D’Euro, by Le Cruise) were slightly over the time across the country in the EI100 (Pony), but she and the 17-year-old bay comfortably accounted for their two rivals on a total of 27.2.
The only combination to complete on their dressage score (25.5) in the seven-strong EI100 (Pony) were the winners, Cerys Owens and Dam Boy (Monaghanstown Prince - Cappagh Lady, by Ardravinna Andy). This was just a fourth start under EI rules for both the young Crossgar rider and the 16-year-old Connemara gelding.