DAISY Trayford, a British international rider living in Co Laois, recorded a double last Sunday at Clyda (2) where there was a big entry including a large number of combinations from the Northern Region.

“The event was a great success thank God,” reported secretary, Fiona O’Meara, on Monday. “We had some very heavy showers here on Friday but, luckily, a very good drying day on Saturday and again on Sunday.

“There were a couple of wet patches that cut up but we were able to get machinery out on the land this morning to have it right for our next event (Saturday, September 16th). We spoke to some of the riders and who thought the track flowed very well so, basically, we will keep to that, making a few subtle changes to the fences.

“We had a great entry, which was wonderful, and a lot of people came down from Northern Ireland which was much appreciated. We would like to thank Mervue Equine (Watergrasshill) for their support as sponsors of the EI90 and, of course, the massive team of volunteers required to run an event such as this – we couldn’t do it without them.”

Trayford, whose double came on former racehorse Ermintrude in the EI115 (Open) and newcomer Waterdale Cardento in the EI90, commented of the cross-country courses: “They were great tracks at all levels, testing the horses without over facing them. The fences were well-built, inviting and educational. This was particularly so in the EI90 where you could educate your young horse in the proper way.”

Climbing the ladder

Trayford and Ermintrude were last following Marie Hennessy’s judging of the dressage phase of the seven-strong EI115 (Open) but, with the addition of just 2.4 time penalties across the country, won on a total of 42.4. They scored narrowly from Sarah Dowley and Bonmahon Liberation (43.2) and the dressage winners Tara Dixon and Master Smart (44.1), both combinations who jumped double clears but were caught out by the clock on the final leg.

“I used to run a yard in Exmoor where we concentrated on producing Irish horses but, 10 years ago, my husband Richard and I moved to the US where we were very active competing, running shows, breeding, etc. I used to gallop a lot of horses when we lived in Florida and came to know (Ireland-born) Niall Brennan who, with his wife Stephanie, is a leading consigner of two-year-old sales horses.

“They are both passionate about finding second careers for their graduates and we re-started a lot of horses for them which is how we came by Erm. She ran five times (under the name Miss Dude), won once and earned roughly $23,000. I competed her up to three-star level in the States and we flew her back with us when we moved over here in November as we eventually want to breeder from her. Unfortunately, I broke my wrist badly in the spring so didn’t start eventing until the end of June.

“The immediate plan for Erm (a 10-year-old by First Dude out of Blue Grass Dancer (by Dance Brightly) is the EI115 (Open) at the National Championships (this weekend) and then on to Ballindenisk.”

Happy success

Louise Kennedy recorded her first success since August 2021 when winning the 11-runner EI115 on the Irish Sport Horse gelding Eromenom JJ who was posting his first ever victory. Kennedy and the 11-year-old Mr Clover chesnut, who was bred in Co Tipperary by John Taylor out of the unraced Kassariya (by Be My Guest), were lying fourth (30.9 penalties) after dressage.

However, having posted one of six double clears, they moved to the top of the final leaderboard on 40.9 with the second-fastest cross-country round.

The in-form Sian Coleman finished second on Kate Jarvey’s home-bred ISH mare Diamond Mistress (42.6) who was making her debut at this level having won an EI110 at Kilguilkey House (3). This weekend, Coleman and the tall Dirado bay are contesting the CCIYH2*-S for six-year-olds at Cornbury House in Oxfordshire. They finished fourth in a similar competition at Jardy, France, in July.