Emily and ‘Donn Boy’ dominate at Tullymurry 2
Turley and O'Connor team provides another first class event
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‘There’s no I in Team’ is a reminder that team members should prioritise the collective good and collaborate with one another to achieve the same end goal. That was certainly the ethos that was demonstrated at Tullymurry over the past two weeks.
The previous week (Saturday, July 15) was a scheduled event, with the Turley and O’Connor families pulling out all stops to ensure that those attending their venue had an enjoyable and educational day for themselves and their horses.
With the postponement last Saturday (July 22) of Glenpatrick, the two families were again determined to provide yet another sporting opportunity for the members. It’s no mean feat to create four courses in less than a week without diminishing standards, quality of dressings or overall appeal, but that’s exactly what they did. Their entire livery yard, family and friends pulled in behind them to provide another first class event of which they should all be extremely proud.
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Thank you, too, to the many sponsors who pledged money and products for all EI 90 and EI 80 classes on both days - this was a real boost for the competitors, who normally just receive a rosette. The smiles on those faces personified a thousand thanks.
Sponsors: BJ Owens Contracts; BR Hamilton Racing; Ciaran Carr Contracts; Clough Footcare; Equisuds Equine & Pet Laundry; Eric Strain, Seaford Truck Repairs; Fletcher Architects; Holmestead Saddlery; Horse First; JF Plastering Contractor; Jim Monaghan Car Sales; KR Equine Veterinary; Michael Lennon Horse Dentistry; Rooney’s Garage, Dundrum; Rosie Alcorn; Ross Property Maintenance; Seaconnell Saddlery; Tim McKee; TRI Equestrian NI.
The weather stayed good for the most part, with the odd sporadic shower making an appearance.
There were just five starters in the EI 110 Open class, where Joseph Murphy led from the outset with Dr Sarah Hughes’s ‘Alcatraz’, an 18-year-old gelding by ‘Cartier VD Heffinck’, who won the EI 100J class earlier in the month at Hillcrest, under saddle of Molly O’Connor, who is currently out in Le Mans in preparation for the Pony European Championships.
Racing jockey and local girl, Toni Quail, took second place for the second consecutive week with her 13-year-old ‘Mermus R’ mare, ‘Wellan Summertime’, who finished on their first phase mark awarded by Lucinda Webb-Graham.
Suzanne Hagan rose to the fore in the EI 110 class of 19, with ‘Karolita O’, an eight-year-old mare, owned by Anne Magee and Jane Hancock. They retained their first phase domination, adding just 6.8 cross-country time penalties to the Vanda Stewart awarded score of 25.8 to give them almost four points clear of Michael McGaffin riding his nine-year-old gelding, ‘Casey’s Cross’. They climbed 10 places from dressage following two faultless jumping phases.
15-year-old Lee Bloomfield from Newry had a landslide victory in the EI 110 J class with Jane Hancock’s ‘Skyhills Cavalier’, where he added just a few time faults to his dressage score to finish over 40 points clear of Sorcha Hanly and ‘My Seafield Romeo’.
Kitty Cullen had the EI 110P class all to herself when riding Jane Hancock’s ‘Coppenagh Spring Sparrow’. However, she didn’t rest on her laurels, gaining a dressage score of 26.5 and, although lowering a coloured pole, she delivered a clear cross-country jumping round, just adding some time faults to her score.
There may only have been three contenders in the EI 110 Amateur class, but it was one of the most competitive classes of the day. Denis Currie and ‘Arodstown Aramis’, got off to a blistering start in dressage. However, two rails in show jumping lessened the margin, with Britt Megahey and Nichola Wray hot on his heels. Britt lowered one fence, while Nichola kept everything standing. Unfortunately, she picked up 20 penalties at the water, when ‘Dylan’ seemed to have his mind set on an alternative route. Britt produced a foot-perfect round with ‘R Showman’, adding fewer time penalties than his fellow competitors, to clinch the win by the finest of margins, 0.1, adding another red rosette to his increasing collection.
The EI 100 class, judged by Janet Hall, had 25 starters. Stephanie Stammschroer from Navan took the win with her mother, Paula’s, six-year-old ‘OBOS Quality’ gelding, ‘Brownstown Theodore’, who added nothing to her first phase score of 25.8 to finish marginally ahead of Joseph Murphy and ‘Shannondale Connor’, owned by Dr Sarah Hughes.
Rosey Herron completed the EI 100 J class with a commanding lead of 12.2 riding ‘Solitaire Rusty Brown’, her mother’s ‘Obelix’ gelding. It was certainly a good day for the Herron family, as her mother also took a win in the EI 90 Amateur class. Second place went to Zoe Daniel riding the Trevor Smith owned, ‘Anvil Lodge Pinnochio’, who won at last week’s Tullymurry.
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There seems to be no holding Sam Hamilton and ‘Cahanagh Black Flyer’ back, as they gained back to back victories in the EI 100P class, having finished on their dressage score of 32, in a week when Sam celebrated his 16th birthday. Kitty Cullen nipped in behind with her second mount of the day, Declan Cullen’s lovely Connemara pony, ‘TBS Inspector Sparrow’, just under two points adrift.
There was great excitement in the Toombs household, as Lucy picked up the winning rosette in the EI 100 Amateur class with Alison Smith’s ‘Bluestone Ice’, bred by Cliff McDowell. They moved up two places from dressage to finish over one point clear of Rosemary Bellew and the Thoroughbred mare, ‘Belle Saru’, who led the first phase.
There were just two finishers in the EI 100 T class, with the win going to Ralph Robinson riding Tommy Considine’s five-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, ‘Shannondale Cristof’, who was making her introduction to eventing. Robyn McFadden took second place with another newcomer, Cheryl Smyth’s five-year-old Connemara Pony, ‘DS Little Red Fox’.
The Herron family from Castlewellan secured their second win of the day in the EI 90 Amateur class, where Johanna finished on her first phase score with ‘Twentypark Emperess’, replicating her performance at Lightsource BP Tyrella 1. They held a 1.3 margin over Sarah Brashaw and her nine-year-old Connemara, ‘Lankhill Lord Bui’, who added just four jumping penalties to their dressage score.
Law student, Katie McKee, was back on winning form in the EI 90 class with her very striking skewbald gelding, ‘Water Paint’, finishing on her dressage score of 23.8 to give her a 3.8 margin over last week’s winner, Ella Boyle and the five-year-old ‘Ars Vivendi’ mare, ‘Assagart Treasure’.
14-year-old Katie Forbes took the honours in the EI 90 P class on board ‘Dr Pepper’, with whom she also won at Hazeldene back in May. Sarah Gilchrist and ‘Rickamore Quest’ finished in second place, followed closely by her sister, Jennifer, on ‘Lackaghmore Vandango’.
Ian McCluggage also enjoyed a very successful day, winning both the EI 90T and the EI 80T classes. Lindsay Martin’s ‘Meadowbank’, by the Irish Draught stallion, ‘Scrapman’, was top of the EI 90T class, on equal points with Tom Rowlatt-McCormick on Russell McNab’s ‘OBOS Quality’ gelding, ‘Captain Cruzdown’. The differentiation came down to the combination closest to the optimum time.
The EI 80Q class has consistently become the largest and most competitive class of the Northern Region events. 23 combinations of mixed age and experience were vying for the top position. The winner was never in any doubt, as 14-year-old Emily Black from Lisbellaw led from the start, with a very impressive dressage score of 19, which was her completion mark with her aunt, Fiona McMillan’s lovely dun pony, ‘Donn Boy’.
Not to be outdone, Auntie Fiona finished in second place with her homebred mare by ‘Black Shadow’, ‘Bunny Two Twirls’, also keeping a clean slate over both jumping phases.
Sincere thanks to Marian Turley, David and Elaine O’Connor and all the team at Tullymurry, who worked like Trojans to make Tullymurry 2 happen. It was certainly appreciated by the competitors, whose year has been badly affected by weather - thankfully, not so much in the Northern Region.
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Once again, a rally call was needed to garner the army of volunteers, who appeared from all parts of the island to deliver the professional service across all three disciplines, which makes organisers so gratified to witness. Thankfully, the weather was kinder this week, but the demands of the sport require lengthy stints of duty for many of the volunteers.
It is SO humbling when these people return to base at the end of the day, still smiling and even thanking organisers for allowing them to be part of the event. That’s what true teamwork is all about and organisers thank each and every one of you, who contributed in any way.
The Northern Region wish the Irish Pony team every success as they compete this week for Ireland at the Pony European Championships at Le Mans. They also wish all the Northern Region riders travelling to Kilguilkey International, every success.
RESULTS
Saturday, July 22
EI 110 Open:
1) Joseph Murphy, Alcatraz; 2) Toni Quail, Wellan Summertime; 3) Jonathan Steele, Zermatt; 4) Declan Cullen, Grand Marnie’s.
EI 110:
1) Suzanne Hagan, Karolita O; 2) Michael McGaffin, Casey’s Cross; 3) Emily Corbett, RF Kruizer; 4) Sarah Ennis, LEB Rebelle; 5) Emily Corbett, Tyrella Delboy; 6) Steven Smith, Hiya Sonny.
EI 110 J:
1) Lee Bloomfield, Skyhills Cavalier; 2) Sorcha Hanley, My Seafield Romeo.
EI 110 Amateur:
1) Britt Megahey, R Showman; 2) Denis Currie, Arodstown Aramis; 3) Nichola Wray, Dylan AKA Springhill Showman.
EI 110P:
1) Kitty Cullen, Coppenagh Spring Sparrow.
EI 100:
1) Stephanie Stammschroer, Brownstown Theodore; 2) Joseph Murphy, Shannondale Connor; 3) Steven Smith, Newferry Aga Kann; 4) Adam Haugh, Elamo Candy Kisses; 5) Adam Haugh, Chrome; 6) Casey Webb, Tykillen Jazz.
EI 100 J:
1) Rosey Herron, Solitaire Rusty Brown; 2) Zoe Daniel, Anvil Lodge Pinocchio; 3) Ellie Leigh Livingstone, Caoranbeag Cillin; 4) Caitlin Woods, Cornflake Bay.
EI 100 P:
1) Sam R Hamilton, Cahanagh Black Flyer; 2) Kitty Cullen, TBS Inspector Sparrow; 3) Holly Ross, Star of Hollymount; 4) Emma Stewart, Loughnageer Prince; 5) Sarah Gilchrist, Hazeldene Mighty Max; 6) Holly Ross, Ech Feirin.
EI 100 Amateur:
1) Lucy Toombs, Bluestone Ice; 2) Rosemary Bellew, Belle Saru; 3) Ciarrai Rice, Lady J; 4) Rachel Williams, Tignabruaich; 5) Dean Salmon, Tullymurry Seana; 6) Philip Swann, Entwistle Foxtrot.
EI 100 T:
1) Ralph Robinson, Shannondale Christof; 2) Robyn McFadden, DS Little Red Fox.
EI 90:
1) Katie McKee, Water Paint; 2) Ella Boyle, Assagart Treasure; 3) Jonathan Steele, Point of View; 4) Caryn Walker, Newferry Eustonov; 5) Sam Forbes, Beau; 6) Sophie Clugston, Question Mark.
EI 90 Amateur:
1) Johanna Herron, Twentypark Emperess; 2) Sarah Brashaw, Lankhill Lord Bui; 3) Orla Sheehan, Bear With Us; 4) Pauline Blair, Charley Browne; 5) Emma Thompson, Cantseeforlooking; 6) Cathy Campbell, Daring Do.
EI 90P:
1) Katie Forbes, Doctor Pepper; 2) Sarah Gilchrist, Rickamore; 3) Jennifer Gilchrist, Lackaghmore Vandango; 4) Tilley Tumilty, Barnadown Lad; 5) Emma Plunkett, Strabo Blaze.
EI 90T:
1) Ian McCluggage, Meadowbank; 2) Tom Rowlatt-McCormick, Captain Cruzdown; 3) Catherine Cowan, Lady Remarque; 4) Ellen MacNabb, Bonecastle Lass; 5) Jonathan Hagan, Richhill; 6) Rachel Carton, Merlin.
EI 80Q:
1) Emily Black, Donn Boy; 2) Fiona McMillan, Bunny Two Twirls; 3) Una Megoran, Rossy April; 4) Siofra Mason, Consequencial; 5) Eve Lindsay, The Highwayman; 6) Abbie Connor, Tullymurry Now or Never.
EI 80T:
1) Ian McCluggage, I.M All You Want; 2) Blathnaid O’Connell, Finnkilly Blackie; 3) Freya Kennedy, Roughan Roulette; 4) Ellen MacNab, Mr T; 5) Jessica Rogers, Knockbridge Magic Moment; 6) Lisa Bruton, Kilrainey Belle.