PATRICK Whelan had a successful day at Flowerhill on Sunday winning both the the EI110 (Open) and the EI110 classes. Riding Carrie Meehan’s seven-year-old MBF Corbeagh (by Quidam Junior I and bred by Patrick and Mary Murphy), he emerged victorious in the open division thanks to a solid dressage score of 32.0 and with no jumping faults bar 3.6 time penalties across country, he finished on 35.6.

In a reversal of the top two from the previous week at Frankfort, Oleana Cowan and Newferry Aga Kann took second place. Starting just behind Whelan with 32.3 in dressage, the pair added four show jumping penalties and another four for time on the cross-country phase, completing on 40.3. Rounding out the podium was Eliza Jane Queally riding Fernhill Inspector. Leading after dressage on 30.0, Queally kept a clean sheet in the jumping, but slipped down the order after collecting 11.2 time penalties across country.

Whelan’s EI110 victory came with Ann and Lisa Cash’s home-bred SHL Cantbetamed (Luidam). The pair opened with a leading dressage mark of 29.8 and delivered fault-free rounds in both show jumping and cross-country. This was the pair’s second outing together having come second the week before at Frankfort. In second place, Amelia McCarthy and The Doctors Touch (ISH) also impressed. Their dressage score of 30.3 kept them close to the leaders and, with just 0.8 time penalties to add across the country, they finished on 31.1. Third went to Aoife Madigan with Slanduff Bell X1.

Local winner

The EI115 (Open) went to Galwayman Cathal Daniels and the experienced Shannondale Micah (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan). Daniels produced a polished dressage test, scoring 30.0 and, despite 2.8 time penalties, he finished comfortably on top on 32.8.

The EI115 (Open) at Flowerhill (2) went to Cathal Daniels and Shannondale Micah \ Lyndsey Robinson

In second place, Tara Dixon guided Master Smart to a strong finish. Sitting on a dressage mark of 35.0, Dixon delivered fault-free jumping and cross-country rounds, collecting only two time penalties to secure a total of 37.0. Completing the top three was Alison Holden with Lates Eddie. A promising dressage score of 31.1 put them in contention, but costly cross-country time penalties (26.4) pushed them down the leaderboard.

The EI115 restricted saw a commanding performance from Alyssa O’Neill riding the Irish Sport Horse DS Candescent, a seven-year-old by Sligo Candy Boy. Their dressage score of 32.3 set the tone, and fault-free jumping phases kept them in contention. Though they picked up 7.2 time penalties across the country, O’Neill’s total of 39.5 was enough to secure the pair’s first EI win. Runner-up honours went to Mark Houlihan and Leonardoe. Starting on a dressage score of 37.5, the pair added eight jumping faults and 0.4 time penalties on cross-country, finishing close behind on 41.9. In third place, Hannah Groves guided MMF Churchill (ISH) to a creditable finish, her strong dressage mark of 33.6 marred by eight show jumping penalties and only 2.4 time penalties.

The EI110 (J) went to Gilby Monaghan with the consistent A Touch of Frost (Womanizer) when he claimed a decisive win on his dressage score of 32.5. Second place went to Kirsty Greene riding Corbally Mountain View. After a 33.5 dressage test, the pair added four jumping penalties and 4.8 in time across country, leaving them on a final score of 42.3. Rounding out the top three was Carolina Condon with Club Orange on 44.8.

The EI110 (J) at Flowerhill (2) went to Gilby Monaghan and A Touch of Frost at Flowerhill (2) \ Lyndsey Robinson

Powering through

The EI100 at Flowerhill was won in emphatic fashion by Elizabeth Power with Richard Ames’ Kilbunny Virtue, a five-year-old by Quality Time, who produced one of the standout performances of the day on her third EI outing. Their superb dressage score of 24.3 gave them a clear early lead which they carried all the way. Cathal Daniels guided John Candy into second with a dressage score of 25.8 and just 1.6 time penalties. Third place went to Alyssa O’Neill with Knockalla on 29.3.

The EI100 (J) proved a nail-biter, with Zara McCarthy and MGH Rioja (ISH) edging victory on 30.8, just enough to beat Carolyn Curry and Milchem Ardeo, who matched that same score but had to settle for second on countback. Kaytlin O’Connor Kelly was just behind in third with Fort Arthur Duchess (ISH) on 31.0.

The Pony EI100 saw Sofia Ball and Glencroft Shadow Catcher (Silver Shadow) claim the win on their dressage score of 29.5. Mairead Duggan and Manninard Diarmaid finished close behind on 30.5, while Samantha Hickey and CRH Charlie’s Freedom rounded off a fault-free podium in third on 31.3.

Rolline O’Callaghan and Splendid B had an all-the-way victory in the EI100 (Amateur) class on 28.8.