‘Mini’ Badminton at Glenpatrick

PERSONALISED treasure chests, stone built cottages and plump, carved ducks were only some of the magnificent fences adorning the Glenpatrick cross-country course for the latest Northern Region event.

Adam Stevenson built three superb courses, which both educated and questioned combinations across all classes. As always, Britt and Anne Megahey, together with Mags Oleszek and Sean Lavery plus the Glenpatrick Liveries left no stone unturned in their efforts to make the event as close to rivalling many an International as was indiscernible. The fences were very professionally decorated with a huge degree of colour and creativity, which was a major talking point throughout the day.

The cross-country got underway promptly at 13.30 in glorious sunshine and there was a large turnout of spectators to cheer the riders on around the length of the course.

Joseph Murphy took the honours in the EI 110 Open class with the Thoroughbred-sired ‘The Quizmaster’, previously campaigned by the Dutch rider, Merel Blom. They added just two time penalties to their flatwork mark to give them an advantage of 1.4 over second placed Steven Smith riding Tessa Westbrook’s ‘I’m Special de Muze’ gelding, ‘Lavori’.

Steven went one step higher in the EI 110, where he took centre stage with ‘Lisbane Top Gear’, a nine-year-old ‘Pacino’ gelding, which has produced an impressive set of results over his five appearances under EI rules. They finished fractionally ahead of Joseph Murphy on his lovely six-year-old ‘Orestus’ mare, ‘My Foxhall Kit’.

Letterkenny’s Sorcha Hanly made it three in a row in the EI 110 J class with her mother’s Connemara-bred gelding, ‘My Seafield Romeo’. They finished over eight points clear of Lucy Kayes on her mother’s Builders Delight gelding, Slievenisky Shamrock.

Sixteen year old Matthew Love from Enfield, Co Meath, came to the EI 110P class double handed and took home a first and second placed rosette. He led from pillar to post with Cloughreagh Charlie, adding just 5.2 time penalties to his dressage score of 27, awarded by Lucinda Webb-Graham and that was enough to give him a convincing margin of almost twelve points over his father’s eleven year old home bred mare, Lucky for Some.

Denis Currie had to settle for the runner up spot this week in the EI110 Amateur class with Arodstown Aramis as Tori Dixon rose to the fore with her ten year old gelding, Mawillan who was making his first outing this season. The Glenpatrick victory means this combination have won five of their last six outings and received a sub twenty mark on this occasion.

There were back to back victories and plenty of celebrations for Glaslough’s Caroline McQuillan and her six year old thoroughbred mare, Belle Saru, who held a seven and a half point lead after dressage. Despite lowering a coloured pole but keeping the cross country sheet clear of all penalties, they still managed to hold a three and a half point margin over second placed Olivia Johns and Lagans Peter.

Just two ponies contested the EI 100P class where Erin McClernon returned to winning ways with Sundance 111, adding just a few time penalties to her first phase score. Katie Robinson and her Connemara pony, Duncarbery Cascade, took second place.

Ralph Robinson proved that his victory last week was no flash in the pan as he, once again, took top position in the EI 100J class with Ali Robinson’s Puissance gelding, Lanigan O.They added nothing to Angeline Nicholson’s first phase score and ended with a seven and a half point margin over Ruby Proctor riding Ann Bowe’s Little Autumn Bee who were making their first appearance this year.

Sweet Wall Eventing’s Lucca Stubington claimed the honours in the EI 100 class on board William Mackie’s ten year old mare, Omaybe, who moved up one spot from dressage following the addition of some cross country time penalties to the score of the early leaders, Andrew Greer and his OBOS Quality mare, Sharp Object, who had to settle for third place. The second spot was occupied by Suzanne Hagan with her Cobra gelding, Loughview Commander who had encountered a few cross country issues the previous week at Hazeldene.

There were plenty of celebrations at The Spa, Ballynahinch, following Hazel Hilland’s victory in the EI 90 Amateur class with her ten year old mare, November Kate. This is a heart warming story of a foal, rescued from its previous fate and eventually taken into the care of an ‘eventing mad’ Practice Nurse who used her kindness, patience and skills to help develop and educate this mare for a sport for which she is clearly intended. They finished with a clean sheet across both jumping phases and just over one point clear of Jonathan West riding Orla Sheehan’s Monmurry Soverign who was the only other rider in the fifteen strong class to finish on their first phase score.

Gemma Goodrich led from the outset in the EI 90 class with Norma Wilkinson’s five year old Ramiro B mare, Remember Bea finishing on the mark of twenty seven awarded by Martina McKinley. Clare Steele slipped in behind with Fran Rowlatt-McCormick’s Mon Ami Tonnerre who placed seventh last week at Hazeldene on their first outing in almost a year.

The Gilchrist sisters from Downpatrick are in competition each week in the EI 90P class where they appear to take it in turns to claim the red rosette. This week was the turn thirteen year old Sarah with her father’s Hazeldene Mighty Max, a seven year old Skewbald pony bred by Andrew Napier from Annaghmore Ginger out of his competition mare, Etch a Sketch. Second place went to Emma Stewart on Beezies Minty who also added nothing to her first phase mark.

A huge ‘Thank You’ goes to Britt and Anne Megahey for opening the gates of their fabulous premises for our use. It is always a very special event where remarkable memories are made.

As always, our thanks and admiration to all of our helpers who answered the Rally call in a difficult week due to a clash with Balmoral Show and the NW 200. We really are blessed to have such a great band of volunteers who come week after week to enable our sport to flourish. A special mention to Edee Mullan who was volunteering as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and she covered miles as she systematically and faithfully collected the dressage sheets on foot from two diverse corners of the venue.

Next week we move to Co Fermanagh to the beautiful setting of Castle Irvine, Necarne where, once again, competitors and spectators are in for a treat with the Vina Buller designed courses ranging from EI 120 – EI 90.

RESULTS

Saturday, May 14

EI 110 Open: 1) Joseph Murphy, The Quizmaster; 2) Steven Smith, Lavori; 3) Steven Smith, Handsome Starr; 4) Daniel Brown, Mr Diceman; 5) Toni Quail, Wellan Summertime.

EI 110: 1) Steven Smith, Lisbane Top Gear; 2) Joseph Murphy, My Foxhall Kit; 3) Steven Smith, MMF Churchill; 4) Edgar Boggs, Camiro de Clover; 5) Freya Kennedy, Carrickview Diamond Gayle; 6) Conor Savage, Elpaso Rising Storm.

EI 110 J: 1) Sorcha Hanly, My Seafield Romeo; 2) Lucy Kayes, Slievenisky Shamrock; 3) Rebekah McKinstry, Cornhill Rose; 4) Ellen Douglas, Downshire Rock.

EI 110 P: 1) Matthew Love, Cloughreagh Charlie; 2) Matthew Love, Lucky For Some; 3) Molly O’Connor, Coolnaleen Rebel.

EI 110 Amateur: 1) Tori Dixon, Mawillan; 2) Denis Currie, Arodstown Aramis; 3) Denis Coakley, Sugar Bunnie.

EI 100 Amateur: 1) Caroline McQuillan, Belle Saru; 2) Olivia Johns, Lagans Peter; 3) Kim Constable, Urneypark Big Cat; 4) Niamh Martin, Lady Bell; 5) Ann Bowe, Festy Breeze; 6) Kim Constable, Peter the Great.

EI 100 P: 1) Erin McClernon, Sundance 111; 2) Katie Robinson, Duncarbery Cascade.

EI 100 J: 1) Ralph Robinson, Lanigan O; 2) Ruby Proctor, Little Autumn Bee; 3) James Murphy, Kylestone Carrick Prince.

EI 100: 1) Lucca Stubington, Omaybe; 2) Suzanne Hagan, Loughview Commander; 3) Andrew Greer, Sharp Object; 4) Casey Webb, Our Pollyanna; 5) Cecilia Mayne, Eleba; 6) Freya Kennedy, Kirktown Bob’s Song.

EI 90 Amateur: 1) Hazel Hilland, November Kate; 2) Jonathan West, Monmurry Sovereign; 3) Michaela Donnelly, Burke Private Bluebird; 4) Christina Sterling-Berry, Tyrella Whiskey; 5) Ailsa Martin, Grateful For Gold; 6) Heather Champion, Drumcara Red.

EI 90: 1) Gemma Goodrich, Remember Bea; 2) Clare Steele, Mon Ami Tonnerre; 3) Erin McCrea, Rubane Candy; 4) Gemma Goodrich, Punters Dream; 5) Poppy Moore, Silver Button; 6) Freya Kennedy, Roughan Balou.

EI 90 P: 1) Sarah Gilchrist, Hazeldene Mighty Max; 2) Emma Stewart, Beezies Minty; 3) Jennifer Gilchrist, Lackaghmore Vandango; 4) Holly Ross, Ech Feirin.