CLOCKING up his fourth international win at the Co Cork venue, Kevin McNab was the pillar to post leader in the competitive CCI2*-L. Riding the Irish-bred Sumas Tina Turner, McNab impressed Ground Jury members James Rooney (IRE) and Eric Lieby (FR) to earn a score of 28.6, and as one of five fault-free performances, he was never headed. Chasing all the way and improving his position after the show jumping, Steven Smith filled a good second with Strangford, followed by Kiwi rider Tayla Mason (Rehy Showtime) in third place.

The winning mare is owned by Sofia Von Moltke and, bred by the Suma Stud, had been show jumped in Ireland under Borris-based rider Donnacha Dermody. Through Dermody, she was recommended to Von Moltke, who in turn sent her to McNab’s yard in Surrey. Now an eight-year-old, the daughter of Quantino competed in Le Lion D’Angers last year under McNab’s second jockey Isabel English, although the Australian has been back in the saddle this season. “Moving forward we needed some qualifications as a partnership,” he explained.

While all bar one of the 17 runners came home clear in the country, it was a different story on the final day. With clear rounds at a premium, only six left the coloured poles intact, and while McNab held on to his position, others were demoted. Benefitting however, Steven Smith jumped an immaculate round with the impressive Strangford, and pulling up from fourth to second, commented, “He’s a very exciting horse. He was runner-up in the RDS young event horse class last year, and would be one we would like to have in Le Lion d’Angers this October. That said, we have three in the running for Le Lion, so we’ll have to see.” Bred by Dorothea Wilson, and owned by long-time supporter Terry Johnston, Strangford is by Luidam out of the traditionally bred Templepatrick Dara Bay (by Cruisings Micky Finn).

Never far from the business end of proceedings, New Zealander Tayla Mason gained another top three placing when she was promoted to third with Andrea Ryan’s international debutante Rehy Showtime. A new season ride for Mason and only due to Ryan’s ongoing ankle injury, she has been thrilled with the seven-year-old who, as a comparative novice, has had only three runs at 110m level. Bought privately as a three-year-old direct from breeder Stevie Russell the gelding is by Rehy High Society, and is a full brother to the international event horse, Rehy Volunteer.

Many of those in the top placings overnight clocked up expensive penalties on the final day, and most significantly American rider Cosby Green. Tipping two poles with Cooley Seeing Magic, Green slipped to eighth, while with just one error, third-placed Lucy McIlroy (Major Black) was demoted to sixth.

This was nevertheless a good result for McIlroy, as it was for fourth-placed Joseph Murphy aboard the clean jumping Dstud Flirtation, and the equally fault-free Anna Corrinne White (Kilcoltrim Dora) in fifth.