NORTHERN Region riders were disappointed, particularly for their owners, that last weekend’s Eventing Ireland National Championships couldn’t take place as scheduled at Castle Irvine, Necarne.

However, like all others, they were delighted and appreciative that Danny and Michelle Dulohery stepped into the breach by hosting the championships at Kilguilkey House where their support of the move south paid off as they won four of the 14 national titles, two of the three regional youth team competitions and all three finals of the 2023 Horse Sport Ireland eventing series.

The in-form Clare Abbott claimed two of the HSI finals starting with Lawrence Patterson’s home-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Drumnaconnell Kobie who, in spite of a fence down show jumping, led the EI115 for seven-year-olds throughout. The son of Road To Happiness completed on a total of 31.4 penalties which left him well clear of Tullibards You Make Me Feel (37.5) who was ridden for owner Hans Juergen Kuehnle by Daniel Alderson.

Foot-perfect

“Kobie was foot-perfect over the two days and really didn’t deserve those four show jumping penalties,” said Abbott of the winner who recorded the only clear inside the time on the cross-country phase where none of the eight starters had a problem in jumping. “Lawrence loves this horse and we are all delighted with his progress this year – he has come on in leaps and bounds."

"This was his first start since finishing fourth in the CCI3*-S here in June. He’ll go to Ballindenisk later this month and then, hopefully, it’s on to Le Lion.”

Abbott brought up her double in the 25-runner EI100 five-year-old final where she and her very inexperienced MT Luxaan completed on the winning dressage score (23.8 penalties) they were awarded by Shota Niikura and Caroline Neville. The Hillsborough native was also fifth with Marshall and Sarah Riley’s Kilcoltim Cooley (28.4).

The top 10 on the final leaderboard all finished on their flat work marks with Junior rider Isabella Gogan placing second on her mother Georgina’s Frammassone gelding Ardeo Copperton Kryptonite (26.4). There was one elimination in the show jumping phase for a rider fall and one retirement across the country where just one other combination had an issue with the fences.

An ISH mare by Cazann, MT Luxann is a talented show jumper as well as an eventer and is highly-regarded by Abbott and her partner Gareth Carlisle who bred the bay. She only did the dressage phase on her first EI start at Tullymurry (3) and then won next time out at Clyda (2), a week before the championships. “This is an amazing mare who has done everything we have asked of her,” said Abbott, adding: “It was a really good event and Danny did a great job on the ground.”

Exciting future

Gilford’s Steven Smith dominated the HSI EI110 final for six-year-olds where the top eight of the 15 starters, and finishers, completed on the dressage scores they were awarded by Paula Geiger and Vanda Stewart. Four horses erred in the show jumping phase and one of these also had a stop across the country.

Smith held the first two places throughout on Susan O’Shea’s ISH gelding Tullaher Paudie (24.6) and Terry Johnston’s ISH gelding Strangford (26.9), the league winner.

While Tullaher Paudie was retired last time out in the CCI2*-L at Blair Castle, he had previously proven extremely consistent this season. The Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan bay placed third of 52 in the CCI2*-S here at Kilguilkey in late July and never finished worse than fourth in five EI110 starts.

“These are two very exciting horses for the future,” said Smith whose only other ride over the two days, Premier Lara, finished fifth of 23 in the non-restricted EI110 championship. “I always enjoy going to Kilguilkey as Danny and Michelle always do their best to provide excellent sport and make us feel as welcome as possible. Everyone was grateful that they were able to step in to run the National Championships; it was much appreciated with all the cancellations this year.”