BY recording the sole show jumping clear, Tuula Keary and Shadow Shannondale reversed placings with dressage leaders Niamh Kirwan (Global Javall Gold) to win the six-strong EI 100 (J) at Frankfort Stud.

Keary has struck up a promising first-season partnership with this eight-year-old, who was initially campaigned in England by Daisy Job and Ben Hobday. Second last time out at Rosanna, they have clocked up a good record, and look ready to upgrade.

O’Connor double

Fourteen-year-old Oscar O’Connor has his hands full juggling his dressage commitments with that of his eventing, but never daunted, he racked up a smart double in the pony sectors.

Already a veteran of two European dressage teams, and soon heading for his third appearance, O’Connor teamed up with the former Dutch team event pony Chanel Van de Kleine V to head the four starters in the EI110 (P).

Surprisingly off the pace on the flat, O’Connor soon made headway however following the show jumping and cross-country, where he emerged as the sole runner to complete the latter phase clear. Picking up an uncharacteristic 20 penalties in the country, Alex O’Hare and Greylands Diamond Girl completed in second place.

In contrast it was the show jumping that proved to be the bogey in the EI 100 (P), but this time leading from the front, Oscar O’Connor landed his second win of the day aboard Belaero.

Formerly ridden by Ellie Fredericks in England, but now well established at the O’Connor’s Cleariestown yard, Belaero was recording his second win of the current campaign, as well as confirming his lead in the Equipe Saddles 100P league.

O’Connor’s mother Susie was naturally upbeat about this run of success, but as she explained: “Oscar is also listed on the High Performance list for eventing as well as dressage, and while we opted to concentrate on the dressage this year, we also were keen to add the eventing mileage as well, in order to become comfortable at both disciplines.”

With all but one of the nine starters carrying show jumping penalties, dressage runner-up Gilby Monaghan held on to second place here with the Connemara pony Longwood Lara, from Andrew Walsh with the similarly bred Battlestown Delight.

New ride

Having just been nominated for the forthcoming pony European eventing championships, Ben Connors celebrated his call up by winning the EI 100 (J) aboard his new ride King Paola.

Formerly campaigned by his sister Alex, as well as Steven Smith, the gelding led from the front, and in dressage order, pipped Clodagh Shanahan Rice (Coolfin Vivendi) and Raju Singh with Grand Marnier.

The honours in the final EI 90 (P) division fell to Eva Murray, who has now racked up a hat-trick of victories with her father Keith’s Connemara stallion Lough Fadda Rudi. Maintaining their first phase lead, the pair were one of three double clear rounds, from second placed Georgina Pettit (Ballyerk Lover) and also Katie Murvey aboard Grace Mahon.