TOMMY Considine has supported the Eventing Ireland Western Region Berts Properties Starter Series since it commenced but he had to wait until Easter Monday this year to record his first success on finals’ day.
“Every other year, I won at one or more of the qualifiers but couldn’t get the job done at the finals,” commented the Co Clare rider/producer who had six to eight horses at each round of the series. “This year, I didn’t win a qualifier but managed to win at the final. Work that out!”
Considine’s victory came in the Liam Lynskey-sponsored Derryronane Stud five-year-old final on Shannondale Zeus (167.8 marks), while he also produces Lisbrogan Sarco (162.8) who finished second under the yard’s Sean Gormally. Both Irish Sport Horse geldings by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan belong to American owners.
Wendy Arndt’s winner, who was bred by Shannondale Stud, is out of the High Roller mare Shannondale High Fly. Sarah Hughes’ Lisbrogan Sarco was bred by the late Thomas Conlon out of his British-bred Hand In Glove mare Trewins.
“The second horse did this series last year when he was big and raw but he has come on a lot and is improving with every outing,” said Considine. “I only got the winner around Christmas time and he didn’t do much at all at four. I’ll have to talk to the owners, but I’d like them to do a bit of jumping on grass at the local agricultural shows and then try the Dublin young event horse qualifiers.”
Olivia Chamberlain was presented with the day’s Sea Warrior Sea Supplements turn-out prize on her third-placed Vittorio gelding Roscrib Biden (162.2).
Supremacy
Donnacha Anhold, who was on hand to oversee the presentation of the winners’ rugs sponsored by Carter Anhold Solicitors, doubled up by competing in the Drumhowan Stud six and seven-year-old class. This was won by the 2019 Glasgow vant Merelnest gelding CBI Supremacy (169.2 marks) who was bred by CBI Carroll Brothers out of the Kroongraaf mare CSF Karina, dam previously of the Goodluck VDL grey CBI Karhari/Goodgraf (CSI4*).
The winner was ridden by Keith Moloney as owner Aoife McCabe stuck with the fourth-placed Cobra 18 gelding Air Mal (157.4). The pair were split by Caroline Devine on her Cloonaslee Captain Cristo gelding Captain Devine (163.8) and Sinead Burke with CES Casson (160.5).
The introduction this year of an open class, sponsored by Gerry Daniels Timber Harvesting and Callatra, added an extra dimension and more entries to the series. Comfortably topping the scores in Monday’s final was the elsewhere-mentioned Oisin McDonagh with his father Martin’s 148cm gelding Full Moon Magic (164.3), an eight-year-old son of Bog Mac Bobby. Co Longford’s Teresa Whyte finished second on her father Gerry’s home-bred Beechmore Crest gelding Sleehaun Silver Crest (164.3).
Keith Maloney riding CBI Supremacy, winner of the six/seven-year-old class at the EI Western Region Stater Series Final at Milchem \ Aisling Deverell
No plans
Having had to take time out last year for surgery, Co Westmeath’s Trish Newman is slowly re-introducing herself and her former point-to-point mount Cry Of The Dreamer to competition.
Representing Mosstown, she and her 11-year-old Campaign Swing gelding didn’t have the best result at the recent Association of Irish Riding Clubs’ national hunter trials at Nuenna Farm but made up for that by winning Monday’s Treo Eile thoroughbred final on a score of 178 marks. Trish and her partner John Rogan bred the winner out of their Arctic Lord mare Arctic Kitty who is dam of three other thoroughbred foals (all also by Campaign Swing) and a similar number of traditionally-bred ISH foals.
“I’m not one for making plans,” replied Newman when asked where she and Cry Of The Dreamer are heading next. “As long as I have a happy and healthy horse then I’m happy.”