ALTHOUGH it has taken time to attract big entries, the EI105 class is slowly building in popularity. An ideal stepping stone for both horses and riders, nine runners went to post at Crecora, with the eventual honours falling to Kelley Hutchinson riding her own six-year-old HSH Piccini. The son of Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet was making his debut at the level, and completing on his dressage score of 33.00 together with one of only three double clears, he recorded the same score as Michael O’Toole with fellow first-timer First Obama (by Diarado).

Once again, it was the show jumping that made the difference, catching out dressage leaders Pauline Dahill aboard Tara Browne, whose single error demoted them to third. Dressage judge Carol Quish was not afraid to reward a good test, and she was certainly impressed with Michael Ryan and Oakland Quality who walked away with the EI100.