David Abbott

ONE-eyed wonder horse Adventure de Kannan, who won the 2014 Hickstead Derby with Trevor Breen, picked up another win last Sunday, this time at the Association of Irish Riding Clubs TRI national one-day event at Kilguilkey House in Co Cork.

The 15-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding was ridden by his owner Karen Swann in section two of the advanced primary division and completed the event with nothing to add to his dressage score of 27.0 penalties.

The Newpark rider was in third place after dressage but a solid performance over the coloured poles and cross country ensured victory for Swann ahead of Ballycanew’s Lorne Deegan (Derryvale Princess) on 30.0.

Swann said afterwards, “I bought Addy as a three-year-old and competed him myself until he was seven. I then took a break from riding and had my two children. At the time he was on DIY livery at Trevor Breen’s yard and when I stopped riding, Trevor started competing him. He has jumped in Nations Cup’s, five-star Grand Prix and last year won the Hickstead Derby. The fact that he’s lost his eye due to having an eye condition has made no difference to his abilities or how he enjoys life.

“He’s 15 now so Trevor and I decided to semi-retire him and give him a longer holiday. As my children got older I’ve started having him back for his break. He came back to me in August and I have him until next March when he will go back to Trevor to gear up for the 2016 Hickstead Derby.”

Cashel-based Swann continued: “Earlier this year I decided I wanted to do some more riding, so I thought I’d join Newpark, my local riding club and it was the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s a great friendly club with all different abilities and a great atmosphere. Everyone is really supportive of each other and without them I never would have had the confidence to take Addy eventing.

“I loved every minute last Sunday. It was only my second event in seven years but being there with all the other club members definitely made it less daunting. He is definitely a horse in a million,” she added.

In another advanced primary division, Castle Leslie’s Sharon McKeever impressed in the dressage to claim the spoils on Cosmic Rolo. The Monaghan-based rider had nothing to add after the jumping phase to finish ahead of Dalysgroves’ Donna Murray on Kiko Temple in second

The husband and wife duo of Albert and Lisa Whitehead from Carne riding club went head-to-head in the advanced intermediate division. Albert held the lead after dressage but his gelding, Ballyell Quick Pick, knocked a coloured pole to finish on a total of 26.0. His tally brought him level with his wife Lisa who had nothing to add after the jumping phases on her gelding, Ballyell Little Jim. Lisa however was closest to the optimum time to leave Albert in second place for the second successive year.

The Wexford club picked up another win the intermediate division where Jennifer Kehoe claimed the spoils after a-foot-perfect performance from Westwinds Mr Cool. Karen Blakely led after dressage but the Unicorn rider dropped down to second after show jumping when Belline Rover picked up five penalties.

In the second intermediate section, Virginie Bibes and Mr Darcy Sir went clear in the jumping phase to claim the honours for Clonshire. Her final score of 27.7 was enough to keep the Kilmallock resident ahead of Mill Roads’ Fran Denny (Lloydsboro Lad) on 29.6.

The Limerick-based club also took ribbons in the open and advanced open division where John Glynn claimed the spoils on Shanaclough Tory Hill. His total of 37.8 gave him a marginal victory over previous winner, Joanna Maher on Lissangles Royales Jade.

Martha Naughton won the young horse division after Simbolise, a five-year old Irish Sport Horse gelding, finished with nothing to add after show jumping and cross-country ahead of Devil Bits Donal Kenneally on Killea Flash.

Carne Riding Club made history when they became the first club to win the team championship for a second successive year at the national one-day event.

They finished on a total of 81.2 penalties to give them a 20 penalty-winning margin over second placed Mill Road.

The husband and wife duo of Albert and Lisa Whitehead both finished on 26 penalties, while Jennifer Kehoe provided the teams other score of 29.2 after the Bridgetown resident completed the day on her dressage score while her sister Nicola Kehoe made up the quartet on Hilltown Hero who finished on 48.3.

Club chairperson Lee-Anne O’Keeffe said afterwards: “It was a fantastic win and a great effort from each member. Last year was our first time to win the championship and to retain it again this year is the ultimate icing on the cake.”

The three member team from Mill Road claimed second place after Fran Denny, Maja Rykala and Fiona O’Dwyer all added nothing to their dressage scores to finish on a total of 99.3.

Castle Leslie finished third on 99.6. Shane McKeever and Stephen Martin both added four penalties over the coloured poles to finish on 30.3 and 42.1 respectively while Sharon McKeever finished on her dressage tally of 27.3 to leave the Monaghan club in third place.