NOT long back from Wellington, Florida, where their son David was on Ireland’s winning Nations’ Cup team with El Balou, Frances and Tomas O’Brien welcomed the Western Region of Eventing Ireland to their Galway Equestrian Centre on Monday for round four of the Berts Properties starter series.

Italian event rider Luca Bortolamei, who works with Carol Gee’s Fernhill Sport Horses in Kilkenny, was judge on a day which was mostly dry but there were a few showers. Competitors warmed up for their flatwork phase indoors while, outside, the dressage arena was set up in front of the canteen so spectators could view the action while sitting in comfort. There was a nice, flowing show jumping course to start, followed by the cross-country fences.

Those competing in the Sligo Candy Boy four-year-old class, sponsored by Padraig Howley, were first to appear before Bortolamei whose winner, on his dressage score of 54.5 points, was Scottish native Duncan McFadyen with RDM Ring Of Happiness. The Milchem-based combination had finished second on their only other series start at Clare Equestrian on February 25th.

Owned by the rider and his partner Becky Scott, RDM Ring Of Happiness is a Traditional Irish Sport Horse gelding by Road To Happiness out of the Cruisings Micky Finn mare, Micky Finns Diamond. “We have no big plans for the horse as yet,” said Scott. “He is to compete in the final and we’ll see what happens then.”

Tulla’s Tommy Considine rode three horses in this class, jumping clear to finish second on Enniscrone Rollars Pride (49 points), fourth on Lisbrogan Sarco (48) and fifth with Dunsandle Ferro (46). Crossmolina’s Luke Corcoran upset the sequence when placing third with the consistent Logmore Jacandy (48). Half of the 14-runner field recorded clear rounds but not so Aoife McCabe and Galway Bay Elliot who had been lying second (51.5) until picking up eight jumping faults to complete on 43.5.

Success

Oisin McDonagh recorded an all-the-way success in Sunday’s Milchem Equestrian ponies’ class on Michael Lyons’ Connemara gelding Esker Tallyho Oliver (52.5). Also completing on their dressage scores to finish second and third respectively were Katie Gibbons with Killadoon Lady (49) and Marilyn Bane riding Rocklodge Filliam (48.5). Luke Corcoran and Vermount Ballygill Silver Shadow dropped from second (50) to fourth with four jumping penalties (46).

“I’ve only been riding this pony for about two weeks,” said 14-year-old McDonagh. “He finished third at last week’s round in Milchem and I was delighted as that was his first time in a dressage arena. He’s a very good jumper.” Esker Tallyho Oliver, who is stabled with the class sponsor, Ralph Conroy, at Milchem, is a five-year-old dun gelding by Ardbear Oliver out of Tallyho Millie, by Monaghanstown Fionn.

Patricia Newman narrowly landed the Treo Eile thoroughbred class on her own Cry Of The Dreamer (49.5) with Evita Thomsen finishing second on the Milchem winner, Black Field (49). Judge Luca Bortolamei had the four starters tight together after dressage but one pole down proved costly for Julie Spring, who had been on 49.5 with Mr Vincent, while Candice Reusch picked up eight jumping penalties with Tiger Twenty Two who had been on 49.

Cry Of The Dreamer, a 10-year-old gelding by Campaign Swing, was partnered by Newman herself in six point-to-point maidens and three bumpers between early December 2020 and October the following year.

The bay, who is out of an Arctic Lord mare, has been successfully shown in racehorse to riding horse classes and amassed 28 Showjumping Ireland points last season. He also competes in Riding Club show jumping and hunter trials where his owner/rider represents Mosstown.