Kitty does the deal at Tyrella 1

THE wait was over. The long winter months had passed and the Northern Region Eventing season was kicking off with Lightsource BP Tyrella 1.

Most importantly, the sun was rising like an orange fireball in the sky, as the first of the 250 competitors arrived at the iconic County Down venue around 6.15 on Saturday morning.

That was the setting for an incredible event, which had wall to wall sunshine, albeit that the Mourne Mountains were partially masked with mist for most of the day.

Aaron McCusker built good ‘up to height’ technical show jumping tracks, which certainly proved influential in the overall results.

Adam Stevenson used the experience of his recent work with Pierre Michelet at Le Lion D’Angiers to introduce some additional questions in his four cross-country tracks, which were well received by competitors. Ground conditions were absolutely perfect and emphasised, yet again, the uniqueness of this incredible venue, which Northern Region greatly values.

2022 Lightsource BP Tyrella 1 will be forever etched in the memory of 11-year-old Gilford girl, Kitty Cullen, because it represented the realisation of a goal she set many years ago. Kitty, who grew up watching her parents, Becky and Declan, competing had aspirations from a very early age to follow in their footsteps. Those dreams came to fruition on Saturday, as she took on the challenges that awaited her with Jane Morrow’s little gelding, ‘Moyans Dun Deal’. They were one of just three combinations in the EI 90P class to finish on their dressage score. 13-year-old Co. Kildare’s Anna Nangle finished in second place with ‘Blackwoodland Breeze’ and 12-year-old Charlotte Betts from Dromore, Co. Down, also added nothing to her phase mark with ‘Akaroa Bittersweet’ on her debut event. The very early successes of these young riders augur very well for the future of the sport.

There was a fabulous start list in the two EI 115 classes, which read like a ‘Who’s Who’ of eventing. The Open class saw victory go to Clare Abbott riding Lisa Rosbotham’s ‘Valent’ gelding, ‘Jewelent’, which led from the outset and finished on a fabulous score of 19.6 awarded by David Lee. This was the combination that finished best of the Irish, in 14th place at the European Championships in Avenches last September. Ian Cassells came in just over one penalty point behind with the Bridget McGing bred gelding, ‘Master Point’, who won his class last week at Blackstairs.

Adam Haugh enjoyed the first of his two wins in the Vanda Stewart judged EI 115 class on board ‘Carsonstown Cruise’. They kept both jumping phases clean to keep a half-point margin over second placed Molly Evans and ‘Wellan Graffiti’, who were the first phase leaders, but slipped down one place with the addition of 1.2 show jumping time penalties.

Lucinda Webb-Graham kept her top marks in the EI 110 Open class for Adam Haugh, who was riding Amanda Boyle’s Hanoverian bred mare, ‘Denali’, who also won on his last outing at Ballindennisk International with Ella Boyle in the saddle. Ella, currently side-lined through injury, is counting down the time until her return to competition.

Steven Smith occupied the runner up spot with Virginia Maguire’s Thoroughbred gelding, ‘Handsome Starr’, who last week won the Northern Region Irwin Trophy for the ‘Owner-bred horse gaining most points at Northern Region events’.

Co. Meath’s Nicola Ennis won the EI 110 class with her own seven-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, ‘Dawn Arrival’, bred by Jim Bolger. Interestingly, his win at Tyrella comes almost 10 years to the day that his father, ‘Dawn Approach’, made a winning debut in the first two-year-old race of the season at the Curragh in 2012. Steven Smith, again, took the runner up placing with ‘Lavori’, Tessa Westbrook’s six-year-old gelding by ‘I’m Special de Muze’.

10 combinations came before Janet Hall in the EI 110 Junior class, where Ted O’Leary and ‘My Ballintoghers Cracker Jack’ were the only partnership to finish on their first phase score.

Julia Adams took second place for the second consecutive week with her father’s 11-year-old mare, ‘Milchem Ardeo’.

The trip to Tyrella was a very successful one for 15-year-old, Tom Nestor, from Co. Kildare, who won both the EI 110 P and EI 100P classes. He took the win on the former riding ‘Freddie’, with whom he had great success last season, being rarely out of top placings and never having picked up any cross-country jumping penalties in 14 outings. Second place went to Ben Connors riding his parents’ Connemara-bred gelding, ‘Cornafest Fred’.

Tom Nestor clocked up his second win of the day with ‘Tullaree Ruby Tuesday’ in a class of 13 in the EI 100P. Molly O’Connor was the early leader with her new mount, ‘Fernhill Mix and Match’, scoring an impressive 21.8 from David Lee. However, despite jumping clear, the addition of 10.8 time penalties across the country relegated them to eighth place and left the path to victory open for Tom. Second place went to Hannah Willis and ‘Kilnaspic Lily’.

Meantime, the first of the Amateur classes saw the Baileys Horse Feeds Flexi Eventing Champion, Denis Currie, continue his winning form with ‘Arodstown Aramis’. All four starters faulted in show jumping, but Denis was the only one to cross the finish beams inside the time allowed.

Zoe Kavanagh from Dublin rose to the top of the leaderboard in the EI 100 Amateur class with Richard McElligott’s ‘VDL Arkansas’ gelding, ‘Farrellys Tavern’. They finished clear, just two points ahead of Christina Turley and ‘Ann’s Bob’. This was a momentous day for Christina, who was returning to the saddle just two months after giving birth to her beautiful daughter, Sadie.

The EI 100J class saw an amazing entry of 20 super combinations come before Vanda Stewart. She was most impressed with Alex Byrne riding ‘Major Cross’, who led from the outset and kept a clean slate across both jumping phases to finish half a point ahead of Ellen Douglas and ‘Downshire Rock’, an eight-year-old mare by ‘Ringfort Cruise’.

There was also a great entry of 33 in the EI 100 class, with the crème de la crème being Suzanne Hagan riding Anne Magee and Jane Hancock’s mare, ‘Karolita O’. This was the fifth outing for this partnership, which has resulted in two wins, two third placings and a fifth. Another combination that is no stranger to success completed in second place – Elaine O’Connor and the Fletcher owned horse, ‘Sir Barnabus’, who won the Baileys Horse Feeds Flexi Award for the Horse of the Series.

Belfast girl, Eve McDowell, had plenty to celebrate as she recorded her first win under Eventing Ireland rules in the EI 90 Amateur class with her 10-year-old piebald gelding, ‘Nakuti’. They moved up one place from dressage after the early leader, Wendy Seymour, lowered a coloured pole with ‘Carrick Diamond Lily’.

Andrew Napier took centre stage in the EI 90 class with his six-year-old home-bred mare, ‘Hazeldene Etch A Sketch’, which maintained the top placing across all three phases. Nearest rival was Robbie Collins and his five-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, ‘Dunrath Archibald’ by ‘Chinook Eclipse’, out of a ‘Beneficial’ mare. Robbie bought him as an unbroken three-year-old for his wife Vicky, but ended up doing a horse swap over the summer as he gave Vicky the ride on ‘Dunrath Navigator’. ‘Archibald’ is undoubtedly one to watch out for in the future.

Northern Region is deeply indebted to David Corbett and his family for the use of their excellent estate at Tyrella, which lends itself perfectly to getting horses properly prepared for the season ahead, both nationally and internationally.

Thanks to the amazing sponsors, Lightsource BP, Orthoderm, Baileys Horse Feeds, Horse First, Down Royal Association of Horse Breeders, Metal Technology and Sporting Images, without whose generosity and support the Northern Region certainly could not operate in the current climate.

As always, organisers extend a HUGE thank you to the many volunteers, who have been very generous with their time, covering the wide range of duties required to keep the event fully functional on what was a particularly long day.

This Saturday, the Northern Region returns to the Co. Down venue for Lightsource BP Tyrella 2.