GEMMA Esler had the perfect start to the Bank Holiday weekend as she filled the first two places in the EI90 at Vesey Lodge on Saturday.

Her winner was Norma Wilkinson’s Irish Sport Horse mare Remember Bea(26 penalties) while she finished a close-up second on her own unraced thoroughbred gelding Punters Dream (26.5), a Rathbarry Stud-bred six-year-old by Shirocco out of the non-winning Presenting mare Glens Ruby.

Katie McKee placed third with the very experienced skewbald gelding Water Paint (27.3) ahead of Janie Cairns and the five-year-old Zambia Touch (28.8) who was making his second appearance under Eventing Ireland rules. All four combinations completed on the dressage scores they were awarded by Coreen Abernethy as did those placed fifth and sixth.

Eight of the 15 starters were caught out by the show jumping phase while four horses picked up jumping penalties across the country, one of those subsequently retiring.

Great form

Remember Bea, a six-year-old by Ramiro B, was bred in Co Down by Alison Mercer out of the unraced thoroughbred Cove Point (by Balla Cove). The bay made her seasonal debut seven days earlier at Tullymurry 3 where she finished second in the 19-runner EI90.

“After she won at Glenpatrick in May last year, the mare picked up a field injury which has taken a long time to heal so I’m really thrilled for her owner that she has returned in such great form,” said a delighted Esler, a software trainer and a Stage 4 senior coach (BHSII).

“I’m aiming both horses at the EI90 national championship and we’ll take it from there.”

On Monday, Esler was at the Area 17 home eventing championships at Lusk Equestrian where her two children, Ana and Alec Goodrich, were competing as members of the East Antrim Branch of The Pony Club. Ten-year-old Ana, who has stepped up to 85cm level, was well-pleased with her 10th place finish with Tony’s Tommy.

On this occasion however, the bragging rights fell to seven-year-old Alec who, on board Tiny Tim, won his arena in the 45cm assisted class and was a member of the winning East Antrim squad in the team competition.

Mentioned elsewhere in this page, Noreen Fitzpatrick was also at Lusk Equestrian on Bank Holiday Monday in her role as District Commissioner of the Killultagh Branch. Meanwhile husband Noel was back at Vesey Lodge, dismantling the cross-country course as he began the process of bringing the venue back to its usual pristine state.