KILDARE’s Rolline O’Callaghan and her palomino gelding Splendid B continued to set the pace in the EI100 (Amateur) league where, following their fifth win of the season at Crecora (2) on Sunday, July 23rd, they were on 70 points at time of writing.

Prior to that success, O’Callaghan and her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Smooth Operator finished third in the Equi Balance EI100 (Amateur) at The Clare behind Kathryn Graham and her ISH mare So Dignified, a six-year-old bay by Dignified van’t Zorgvliet on whom she was flying fourth in the league on 41 points, and Britt Megahey and R Showman who are now competing at EI110 level.

Fourth at The Clare, Christina Turley came out the following weekend to win at Tullymurry (1) with Ann’s Bob, the 15-year-old bay gelding with whom she occupied second place in the league (54 points). Fellow Northern Region member Lucy Toombs was in third spot with Bluestone Ice (52) on whom she finished second to Turley at Tullymurry (1) before winning at the same venue seven days later.

Alison Smith’s Bluestone Ice is a 15-year-old ISH gelding by Creevagh Grey Rebel who was bred in Co Armagh by Cliff McDowell out of Danske (by Boiar Des Isles). The grey began his eventing career in mid-July 2014 under Clare Steele whose husband Jonny took over the ride in early September 2017 and campaigned him up to CCI4*-S level. Toombs began competing Bluestone Ice at the start of the 2022 season.

There was a disappointing turn-out of just two starters in the EI100 (Amateur) at Hillcrest (3) on Sunday, July 9th, when Joanna Jones and the French-bred Dogora narrowly accounted for Amy Walsh and her ISH gelding Tinkas Hugo. The winning 14-year-old Robin Des Pres gelding won two hurdle races and was placed over fences when trained by Willie Mullins.