SOME people might yearn for a greenfield site (which involves a lot of work and personnel to set up), but the Glynn family’s Killossery Lodge Stud proved the ideal venue for last Sunday’s Equipeople AIRC national eventing championships.
Yes, the very wet and windy weather finally went through to leave a lovely late autumn afternoon in its wake, but not before giving everyone a good soaking, while the wind was so powerful at one stage that the planks had to be taken out of the show jumping fences in the sand arena to be replaced by poles. The dressage phase took place on grass.
There were a few fallers across the country in the afternoon but, thankfully, all riders got back to their feet and walked away according to the AIRC’s general manager Elaine Dunne who was particularly grateful for all the assistance received on such a bad day from the team of volunteers.
Withdrawals saw two of the 13 squads entered dropping out of the team competition which was won on a score of 131.2 penalties by Killcarrick.
The successful quartet comprised Lucy Maughan on her 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Cuffestown Flyover Lady (by Matchmakers Lad), Richard Hunter with his five-year-old ISH gelding Greannanstown Exhibition (by Dodarde EZ), Louise Begley riding her 12-year-old Irish Draught mare Tara Durrow Magic (by Roadside True Blue) and Helen Douglas with her 14-year-old black gelding, Killmurry Jimmy Black.
There was little between the second, third and fourth-placed teams of Nuenna Farm (144), Tynagh (146.4) and Thomastown and District (146.8).
Stop-start
In the three-runner RC110/RC120 championship, Maughan and Cuffestown Flyover Lady (39.9) finished third behind Sarsfield treasurer Fiona Cosgrave on her ISH gelding Deniro de Semilly (31.5) and her fellow Killcarrick club member Shannon Hunter riding the eight-year-old ISH mare Lady Lux Dignified (37.8).
Veterinary surgeon Cosgrave told us about ‘Roo’ who she purchased as a foal in Cavan. The now 12-year-old Pacino chesnut, who has 83 Show Jumping Ireland points to his credit, was bred in the Lake County by Luke Smith out of the Crosstown Dancer mare Flagmount Flame.
“We’ve had a bit of a stop-start time with injuries (to both of us - on and off), Covid and family life,” said Cosgrave, a Dublin native living in Co Laois. “I have always loved eventing and compete with Eventing Ireland at EI110 (Amateur) level.
“This year, we completed our first 1* international at Millstreet where Roo recorded the fastest of only 15 show jumping clears in a class of 65. Huge thanks to my coach Seamus Merrigan for all his work getting us this far - and hopefully beyond.”
Cosgrave and Deniro de Semilly are the only combination entered in the EI110 (Amateur) at Lisgarvan House tomorrow.
Ten combinations contested Sunday’s young horse class which was won by Headfort’s Amanda Sheridan on her home-bred ISH mare Able Fusion Flyer (33.5). This five-year-old bay by Tullabeg Fusion is out of the Mohill Cavalier Clover mare Currygranny Able Ester who Sheridan campaigned briefly with Eventing Ireland.
The two open classes were won by members of the Co Cork-based Earl’s Well club.
Kate O’Driscoll claimed the RC90 honours on her traditionally-bred ISH mare Ardkilly Lukes Charmer, a five-year-old grey by Luke Skywalker, while Fiona Coughlan topped the final RC80 leaderboard on another grey, her 16-year-old Irish Draught gelding Kenley Diamond (by Welcome Diamond). Coughlan was also second in the young horse class on her five-year-old skewbald gelding Carrahane John 2 (37.2).
The only male rider to strike on his own on the day was Mo Chara’s PRO Dylan Enright who, with the seven-year-old brown gelding King Frank, comfortably saw off his sole rival to win the RC70 combined training class.