THE closest finish among the 11 classes at Hazeldene last Saturday came in the 10-runner EI100 (J) where Ralph Robinson and Rachael Broome completed on their joint-winning dressage scores of 37 penalties.
However, as he was closer to the optimum time across the country, Robinson claimed the honours on board his mother Ali’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Lanigan O, with Broome having to settle for second on her mother Pauline’s thoroughbred mare Natures Blossom who had been placed in all three of her previous starts, at Tyrella, this season.
Comber native Robinson (17) is currently based with Smith Brothers Eventing in Gilford. This is his second season to compete on Lanigan O, a traditionally bred 10-year-old by Puissance.
The bay was bred in Co Kilkenny by Steven Lanigan-O’Keeffe out of the thoroughbred mare All Over Now (by Broken Hearted) who is dam also of the dual chase winner, Browns Brook (by Bob Back).
Having faced two rivals last time out at Tyrella (4), Letterkenny’s Sorcha Hanly only had one to contend with in Saturday’s EI110 (J) where she completed a double on board Sharon Friel’s ISH gelding, My Seafield Romeo. The 12-year-old bay, whose total of 42.7 included 6.4 cross-country time penalties, is by the Connemara stallion, Seafield Silver Dun.
Dressage scores proved all-important in the three-runner EI100 (P) where Newcastle, Co Down’s Alex O’Hare impressively brought up a seasonal four-timer with her mother Donna’s 12-year-old British-bred mare, Greylands Diamond Girl (29.8).
With so much competition from the showing and Pony Club worlds at present, there were just four starters in the EI90 (P) where the only double clear inside the time was recorded by Emma Stewart on board the Connemara gelding, Beezies Minty. The 14-year-old by Coral Misty’s Bobby was bred by the late Julia Hession out of the Ardravinna Andy mare Coral Beauty.
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