ELLEN Douglas recorded her first EI110 (J) success last Sunday at Rosanna (2) on her mother Elaine’s Downshire Rock with whom had finished third on her first visit to the Co Wicklow venue late last month.
From Holywood in Co Down, overlooking Belfast Lough, Douglas and the eight-year-old Ringfort Cruise mare completed on their second-place dressage score (27 penalties) as the early leaders, Sarah Keane and Lon Mac Líomhtha (26.3), slipped up on the flat as they made a second attempt to jump the fourth cross-country fence.
Downshire Rock, who is entered in the CCI2*-L at Kilguilkey House next week, was bred in Co Down by David Mathers out of the Crosstown Dancer mare Darcey Bussell.
The dressage phase of that eight-runner class was judged by Mairin Cassidy who also assessed the flatwork of the 13 combinations in the EI100 (J).
Here, there was a narrow, all-the-way victory for Co Kildare’s Annie O’Neill and her mother Melissa’s Castlestrange Misty Boy (24.5) who, at the age of 10, only made his Eventing Ireland debut this year and was recording his first success on his sixth start on Saturday.
The Dooneen Just Joey grey, who was bred in Co Roscommon by Michael Hanley out of the Clonberne Boy mare Castlestrange Katie IV, was always a point clear of fellow pure-bred Connemara, the Jasper Kelly-partnered Rathcline Moonlight Girl.
There were only four starters in the EI110 (P) where, in spite of a show jump down but with the fastest cross-country round, Molly O’Connor recorded her first success at this level with her father Paul’s 12-year-old traditionally bred Rebel Mountain gelding, Coolnaleen Rebel.
On a good day for Northern Region riders, Kitty Cullen recorded the only double clear inside the time in the seven-strong EI100 (P) to win with 7.5 points in hand on Jane Hancock’s 13-year-old grey gelding Coppenagh Spring Sparrow (30.5).
Locally-based Lucy Keane, who made her EI debut this season, struck on her fifth start when, despite four show jumping penalties, she landed the seven-runner EI90 (P) with her mother Avril Hobson’s Connemara gelding Manusmore Trump, a six-year-old grey by I Love You Melody.
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