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Danescroft Equestrian Centre, Lisburn, became the focus of Eventing Ireland Northern Region’s attention on Saturday, following the postponement, by two weeks, of the Loughanmore event.
The Northern Region Committee decided early in the week to hold a Derby to provide a replacement activity for its members. Leah Knight and Michael Dobbs were very accommodating and were able to allow the use of the fabulous facilities at Danescroft.
Vina Buller and her team of Ronnie Beggs, Stuart Stirling, Nicky and Richard Nesbitt, pulled out all stops to build five super courses, encompassing plenty of variety to provide maximum education for riders and horses of all abilities.
Thanks to the sponsors, Sweet Wall Eventing, Lawrence Patterson, Denis Currie and Nicky Nesbitt, organisers were able to provide amazing prices in all classes.
Once again, faithful volunteers Alana and Willow Duncan, Maureen Brown, Andria Cleland and Evelyn Ferres set aside the threat of bad weather to help in various ways including Fence Judging and Call Up, with Evelyn also providing a super variety of sandwiches for all the helpers.
This is the incredible team work for which the sport is well renowned.
In the 1.10m class, there were six combinations who jumped clear in the first round and, therefore, faced each other in a very fast and furious jump off. Despite plenty of cheering and positive encouragement, there were no clear rounds but the win went to Daniel Brown and ‘Lisa’ (‘Fleur de Lis’), as the fastest four-faulter. ‘Lisa’ is his mother’s 11-year-old bay mare by ‘Hold Up Premier’, with whom he evented since 2017. Seasoned eventer, Jonny Steele, took second place with Caroline Keatley’s ‘Fred’, with whom he is hoping to compete at Lisgarvan International later this month.
It was great to see so many young riders competing with great success, such as Charlotte Betts, who came third in the 1.10m class. She gave the jump off her everything and was in no way deterred by the older more experienced combinations.
Clear rounds were hard to find in the 1m class, where many suffered from ‘four-faultitis’. However, in the end, Tyrella’s Emily Corbett, delivered the required foot-perfect round to give her the win on board Tom Jones’s home-bred ‘Carrick Kilderry’s Magic’. Once again, Jonny Steele featured in the runner up position with Kieran Grieve’s ‘George’, who has been competing in Working Hunter classes, but with whom Jonny hopes to begin Eventing in the latter part of this season.
The 90cm class was the most heavily subscribed, with over 40 entries. Eight partnerships made it through to the jump off, which again provided great excitement for the large number of spectators. The adrenaline rush was too much for some, with resultant falling poles, but the well deserved winner was 15-year-old Elle West on ‘Magerard Celtic’, with whom she came second at Tullymurry when competing under Eventing Ireland rules. Second place went to 15-year-old Mabel Windrum from London and ‘Maggie’, who is on a holiday, visiting her aunt and uncle, Becky and Declan Cullen.
Mabel went one step further in the 80cm class by taking the win when partnered with ‘Peggy’. Whilst all seven riders in the jump off finished on four faults, Mabel certainly gave a demonstration of horsemanship that belied her tender age. That amazing display was equally matched by the most incredible smile and twinkling eyes as she was awarded her prizes, giving her great memories to take back to London! Second place went to Karina McVeigh and ‘Cococabana’, whom she purchased just over two years ago as a lightly backed three-year-old. Since then, Karina has been adding plenty of variety to ‘Coco’s’ education, which is obviously paying off.
Joanne Cairns delivered the only clear round in the 70cm class to take the win with the veteran, ‘Apache’, who made it obvious he had enjoyed his moment of glory. Second place went to 12-year-old Freddie Castles with the amazing ‘Lola’. This partnership is incredible to watch, as they delivered a performance that many double his age would aspire to. He is definitely a rider we’ll be hearing a lot more about in the years to come!
HUGE thanks go to Leah Knight and Michael Dobbs for allowing the use of these fabulous facilities, especially given the short notice of the request.
Thanks, too, to the team of course builders, led by Vina Buller, and consisting of Richard and Nicky Nesbitt, Ronnie Beggs, Stuart Stirling and Leo, who worked hard to set everything up.
The teams of helpers were also phenomenal:
Call Up: Andria Cleland and Evelyn Ferres
Fence Judges: Alana and Willow Duncan, Maureen Brown and Nicky Nesbitt
Arena Party: Richard Nesbitt, Ronnie Beggs, Stuart Stirling
Prize Giving: Catherine Abbott and Georgia Stubington
RESULTS
Saturday, August 5
Derby at Danescroft
1.10m:
1) Daniel Brown, Lisa; 2) Jonny Steele, Fred; 3) Charlotte Betts, Hacker; 4) Rachael Broome, Nature’s Blossom; 5) Britt Megahey, Harry; 6) Johnny Mulligan, Queenie.
1m:
1) Emily Corbett, Magic; 2) Jonny Steele, George; 3) Tara Dixon, Barney; 4) Sarah Brashaw, Lankhill Lord Bui; 5) Zara Sharvin, Sergeant Kiki; 6) Hannah Thompson, Jemeela Charm.
90cm:
1) Elle West, Magherard Celtic; 2) Mabel Windrum, Maggie; 3) Amy Harvey, Indian Robe; 4) Michaela Donnelly, Burke Private Bluebird; 5) Ros Murphy, Roundstone Star Express; 6) Sarah Gilchrist, Spirit.
80cm:
1) Mabel Windrum, Peggy; 2) Karina McVeigh, Cococabana; 3) Freya Kennedy, Sunny; 4) Alex Greer, Phoenix Spark; 5) Craig Hills, High Hopes Tuxita; 6) Annabelle Betts, Percy.
70cm:
1) Joanne Cairns, Apache; 2) Freddie Castles, Lola.