ANOTHER pair to have secured their RDS young event horse qualification before travelling to Frankfort Stud last weekend were the EI 100 winners Louise Bloomer and Shannondale Levi.

Having picked up their golden ticket at Forth Mountain three weeks earlier, the duo has quietly contested four events in which, carrying a creditably clean record, they have never been placed lower the fourth.

As his name suggests, the five-year-old is a son of Shannondale Sarco and, owned by eventing stalwart Jinnie Webb, is a full-brother to Webb’s good international horse Shannondale Icarus. “We bought him from his breeders, the Walsh family, as a three-year-old,” commented Webb. “He has the most wonderful temperament, and I’m even planning to ride him myself next week.”

Bloomer’s dressage mark of just 19.8 was in a class of its own, and earning a winning margin of seven marks, the duo pulled further ahead of second placed Michael O’Toole (Beechdale Jago) and also Ciaran Moran with First Son.

The latter two pairings both faulted in the show jumping, which again yielded an influence. In fact, only six runners out of the 26 who went to post completed on their dressage scores, while five picked up penalties in the country, and another two walked home.

Co Kilkenny young horse producer Nicky Roncoroni has been enjoying a good run in the past few weeks, and added to her recent string of successes when claiming the EI 90 with the smart five-year-old Rockalong. Taking part in only his second event, having been runner-up on his debut, this son of Imperial Heights was bred by Malcom Jennings (dam by French Buffet) and sourced from Paul Douglas two years ago.

The pair opened by leading the dressage on 22.5 and, never headed, beat Michael McNally aboard the six-year-old Go With The Flo, as well as Michael O’Toole aboard Ballybeg Porter. The cross-country flowed well for these younger horses, with the result that all bar one jumped clear.