THE weather gods looked fairly kindly on the Western Region of Eventing Ireland as it staged the second qualifier in its 2023 Sealac eventing starter series at the O’Brien family’s Galway Equestrian Centre last Sunday.

“The rain held off for most of the day but the last few competitors in the six and seven-year-old class did get a little wet,” reported regional secretary, Marie Dunne. “There is a great new fibre surface in the show jumping arena at the Centre and a spectacular new judges’ box which is being dubbed the control tower!

“There was great hospitality in the cafe where a warm fire and great food allowed spectators to watch the action in comfort. The jumping course, which was fabulous, consisted of seven show jumping fences after which competitors went straight over another seven cross-country type fences. Our dressage judge for the day was Jayne Dutson and I would like to thank Marie Ward, who looked after the scoring, and sponsor Liam Lynskey’s son William for collecting scoresheets and helping out all day.”

Ward had her work cut out in the Lynskey and Matt Gordon-sponsored Derryronane Stud five-year-old qualifier as clear rounds were at a premium. Just seven of the 16 combinations who took on the jumping phase (from 18 starters) left the arena without incurring faults.

Among those who did lower a pole was Anita Algierowicz with Cairnview Crystal Springs but they were so far ahead after dressage that they held on to win on 55.5 marks. The pair’s nearest rivals at the finish were Andrew Ryan with the Irish Sport Horse mare Veras Lady (51), a grey by Diamond Graaf, and Matt Gordon riding Liam Lynskey’s VDL Comthago stallion, DS Shotgun (50.5).

A bay ISH mare by Tolan R, Cairnview Crystal Springs, was bred in Co Longford by her owners Sean and Geraldine Quinn. She is out of the show jumping mare Cairnview Clover Crystal whose previous produce include the 2011 Loughehoe Guy gelding Cairnview That Guy Jack (CCI4*-S in the USA) and his 2014 full-brother, the working hunter/show jumper Cairnview Redwood Guy.

“I broke this mare at three but didn’t do much with her last year as she was green and needed time,” revealed Algierowicz. “We will finish off this series and may then compete in the Young Eventhorse Series with a view to qualifying for Dublin. However, it will all depend on how she is going as I don’t like to do too much with these young horses.”

Having secured a healthy lead after dressage in the seven-runner six and seven-year-old class, Katie Gibbons and Milchem Mischief had 16 faults in the jumping phase, which dropped from first to fourth on a final tally of 45 marks.

A winner seven days ago at Tubberbride Stables, Matt Gordon claimed the top spot here but, this time with his own ISH gelding Sirius Rogue (55), ahead of Declan Leahy on Minerpat Danny (52), a skewbald ISH gelding by the Connemara stallion Bay Shadow, and Niamh Tottenham with the home-bred ISH gelding Slieve Callan Gael (50.5), a grey son of Tyson.

Sirius Rouge, a six-year-old Sligo Candy Boy gelding who has 41 Show Jumping Ireland points, was bred in Co Mayo by Edward Ruane out of the Cut The Mustard mare Currower Girl who Gordon competed up to 1.30m level.

The winner completed on his dressage score as did the two horses who finished immediately behind him.

Gordon’s daughter Hannah tried to emulate her father in the Ralph Conroy-sponsored MilcheM Equestrian five and six-year-old pony qualifier where she rode Nokio, a 2017 gelding by Derryronane Stud’s Dutch Warmblood stallion Hans. However, on her dressage score of 52.5 marks, Gordon had to settle for second, sandwiched between 13-year-old Oisin McDonagh on the winner, Milchem Mi Lady (54), and on the third-placed Full Moon Magic (50.5).

While the latter pony is owned by the rider’s father Martin, Milchem My Lady is unsurprisingly owned by Conroy. McDonagh and the 2017 bay mare won and placed twice in three outings under EI rules last season and, just weeks back, won the Western Region’s EI90 combined training league.

Walshe shines again

Another rider to double up on her Tubberbride success was Charlie Walshe but she did so in the Treo Eiles-sponsored thoroughbred class on the same horse, Gervada (57.5), who scored by a near 10-point margin.

Previously trained by Ciaran Murphy, for whom he ran once in a three-year-old maiden hurdle, this five-year-old bay gelding, who also has one EI run under his belt, is by Vadamos and was bred by Rory O’Brien out of the Deposit Ticket mare Gerobies Girl.

Patricia Newman filled the runner-up slot with the nine-year-old Campaign Swing gelding Cry Of The Dreamer (48) on whom she finished unplaced in six point-to-point maidens and three bumpers between February 2020 and October 2021.

Andrew Ryan placed third on the unraced Cousin Violet (48), a seven-year-old mare by Gamut.