THIS has been a very rewarding week for Co Meath’s Carla Williamson and her mother Janet, who does all the driving.

On Easter Monday, 17-year-old Williamson landed the EI115 at Tyrella on Powers, who was having his second start at that level. The following morning, she won the Childèric Saddles four-year-old class at the Stepping Stones to Success league in Wexford Equestrian on BMC Cornet Son (Diamant de Semilly - Cornet Queen, by Cornet’s Stern).

As his prefix would suggest, the flashy bay Irish Sport Horse gelding was bred in Co Antrim by Brian McClintock. He was purchased by his present connections for €26,000 as an unbroken three-year-old at last autumn’s Monart Sale to which he had been consigned by Henry and Joanne Foley. His dam is a half-sister to the Balou du Rouet gelding Sligo Hard Times (CSI5*).

Lisa Doyle finished second on her home-bred ISH gelding Ballinaguilkey Cardi (by Cardento), ahead of Diarmuid Ryan riding Bridget Speirs’s home-bred ISH gelding BT Bon Vivant (by Vivant van de Heffinck).

The five-year-old class was won by Nadia Sabot riding her own Mika Of Heritage (Conthargos - Koh I Nor 111 Z, by Kojak), who is registered with the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland. Godfrey Gibbons placed second on Richard Ames’s ISH gelding Belline Doros Candy Boy (by Sligo Candy Boy), with Anna Stillwell placing third on Andrew Williams’s ISH mare Goldburgs Sister Act (by Dignified van’t Zorgvliet).

Dressage phase

On a warm sunny day, the dressage phase in the young horse classes was judged by Maire Hennessy, with Gillian Kyle taking over for the ponies and thoroughbreds.

Matilda Kiviniemi won the Doagh Equestion event pony class on board Caroline Widger’s five-year-old Connemara gelding Toorboy Dan (Derrada Owen - Fairyhill April, by Monaghanstown Barney). Missing from the class was regular competition Gloria Nolan, who had to withdraw her entries following a fall at home.

Nicky Roncoroni comfortably won the eight-runner Treo Eile thoroughbred to competition horse class on Debbie Mangan’s French-bred gelding Easy Game (Barastraight - Rule Of The Game, by Lavirco). The 12-year-old bay, who last ran in early August 2024, recorded 15 wins over hurdles and fences, many at Grade 2 level, from 42 starts for Willie Mullins.

Roughly two weeks earlier, Easy Game had been partnered by Roncoroni when showcasing the use of thoroughbreds in equestrian sport in a Connolly’s Red Mills/Treo Eile demonstration, while on Easter Monday, Mangan had ridden him herself in a parade of ex-racehorses at Fairyhouse’s Irish National meeting.

There were no league points awarded over the first two legs of the league, but they will be on offer from next Tuesday, April 14th.