Great talent on display at Tullymurry
Curtain comes down on the second Northern Region at the Co. Down venue
On Saturday, the curtain came down on the second of the Northern Region’s back to back events at the amazing venue of Tullymurry.
Sadly, the weather didn’t work in everyone’s favour for the first half of the day, but the sun did reappear mid-afternoon.
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What a treat it has been to encounter the legendary welcome of the hosts, the Turley and O’Connor families, led by the indefatigable Marian, whose refreshing and heartwarming hospitality could earn her an award in Miss Congeniality.
It is very, very uplifting to see a family pulling together to bring an event to fruition. This is not just the immediate family, who are incredible, but the extended family, which includes friends, liveries, instructors, pupils and anyone who has even a tenuous association with Tullymurry!
David, who is now signing autographs, had an incredibly busy schedule as Course Designer, in between filming and teaching. The remarkable change of courses between week one and week two are commendable and a fine tribute to his design skills.
The decoration of the fences was also noteworthy and a credit to the whole Tullymurry team, who must have been in training since this time last year.
As always, Northern Region must pay tribute to the incredible volunteers, many of whom (car parkers, call up stewards, officials etc) stood out in the rain and still managed to stay smiling and conduct their duties with extreme efficiency.
It’s wonderful that their efforts are being recognised and incentivised so very generously by Kim Constable and others.
The winners this week were:
£200 sponsored by Kim Constable – Shantel Lloyd
£50 sponsored by Kim Constable – Maebh McIlduff
Wine sponsored by Ben Foster– Andrew Greer
Wine sponsored by Ben Foster – Aine Lavery
Sincere thanks to absolutely every single person, who helped to make the last two events so successful, as well as all the competitors, who supported these two Northern Region events.
It was particularly pleasing to see so many Southern riders in attendance.
Jonathan Steele from Riverhill Equestrian and Rider Representative for the Northern Region, had reason to celebrate following a great victory in the Open EI 110 class with Caroline Keatley’s 11-year-old ‘Centrestage’ gelding, ‘Zermatt’.
This combination have been tapping at the door for some time but, on this occasion, they led from the outset and finished on their dressage score of 23, almost seven points clear of nearest rival, Steven Smith riding ‘Premier Lara’, a seven-year-old mare owned by Symone Brown, who wasn’t at Tullymurry to see the great performance, as she was picking up a second placed rosette at National Balmoral in the Amateur Championship.
Another competitor, who was having a very busy few days juggling the National Balmoral Championships with his eventing commitments was Cathal Daniels. He had a successful two days at Balmoral and added to his successes by taking a win in the EI 110 class on board Dr Sarah Hughes’s seven-year-old gelding, ‘Shannondale Micah’, with whom he was just out of the placings at last week’s Tullymurry event. This week, it was a pillar to post victory, adding nothing to his first phase score of 26 awarded by Coreen Abernethy.
Gilford rider, Steven Smith, picked up his second placing of the day, just over five points adrift with ‘Carrickview Calvani’, a six-year-old ‘Ramiro B’ gelding owned by Karen McKee, who was just making his third appearance this year and second at this level.
There were just four starters in the EI 110 J class, where Erin McClernon stormed to victory with her mother’s ‘Seapatrick Beachball’, a 12-year-old ‘Beachball’ gelding whom Erin began competing at the start of last year.
James Murphy occupied the runner-up spot with ‘Kylestone Carrick Prince’, his mother’s 10-year-old gelding by ‘Carrick Diamond Lad’, who kept both jumping phases clear and added just 5.6 time penalties to Lucinda Webb-Graham’s flatwork mark. James, who has just left school, is currently one of a number of young eventers filming with Game of Thrones. He is passionate about engineering and is searching for an apprenticeship for next year. In the meantime, he is equally passionate about his eventing and plans to step up to EI 115 level at the end of the season, as he makes the move to Young Riders.
This week’s EI 110 Amateur result sheet reflects a departure from the norm, with Denis Currie having to accept a second placing, following the addition of 11.6 time penalties to his first phase leading score with ‘Arodstown Aramis’. This paved the way to success for Britt Megahey riding his ‘Centrestage’ gelding, ‘R Showman’. There is a lot of friendly banter and rivalry in this class and that certainly was evident on this occasion.
A newcomer to the Amateur ranks this year is Jaclyn Brackenridge from Bangor, who partnered up with Stan and Cindy Cunningham’s appaloosa gelding, ‘Comanche Arrow’. They have competed under EI rules on five occasions and, apart from one technical elimination, have never been out of the top six. They led from the outset and this victory was the culmination of a great week, which saw them take four wins at the Dressage Ireland NR Summer Festival at Necarne.
Ciarrai Rice, no stranger to success, slotted into second place just fractionally behind with ‘Lady J’. This is an incredible combination, who have never placed lower than third in their last eight outings.
Aaron McCusker’s show jumping track proved influential in the EI 100 P class, where a lowered coloured pole proved expensive for Rory Connaughton and ‘Independent Johnny’, relegating him to second place and moving Kirsty Greene from Ashbourne into the winning position with ‘Our Girl’, a seven-year-old mare by ‘KL Mac’, who came third at Kilguilkey International last month.
16-year-old schoolgirl, Katie Robinson, had a runaway victory in the EI 100J class with her mother’s seven-year-old bay mare, ‘Ophelia Cruise’, maintaining her opening score of 26.3 awarded by Martina McKinley. Aoife Gribben claimed second place on Bronwyn Gribben’s grey gelding, ‘Wildfire’.
The main EI 100 class had over 20 starters and podium centre stage this week was deservedly occupied by Holly Wray riding Helen Anderson’s ‘Tolan R’ mare, ‘R Diva’. This pairing have had a trio of successive second placings at EI 90 level in the build up to Tullymurry 2, so it was certainly time for celebration with a victory first time out at this level. Lesley Jones took the runner-up spot, three points adrift, with Yvonne Pearson’s seven-year-old gelding ‘Quality Choice’.
It was lovely to see Claire Liddle and ‘Ballytrim Molly’ back out joining the ranks of the Amateurs in the EI 90 class at The Clare after a compulsory break due to injury. The excitement was palpable on both faces again on Saturday, particularly when the results were posted and they claimed the top position, having moved up one place following an uncharacteristic 20 penalties cross-country for the early leader, Johanna Herron and ‘Twentypark Emperess’. Second place went to Nicola Martin riding her six-year-old Irish Draught mare, Dundrum Misty Blue.
Ian McCluggage headed a heavily subscribed EI 90 class with the Jan and Lindsay Martin home-bred gelding, ‘Meadowspring’. They impressed from the outset with a score of 21.5 awarded by Genny Belton, which was their completion mark. Sam Forbes and ‘DCS Millhouse Platinum’, last week’s winners, took second place and claimed the first of two rosettes going home to their Killyleagh address. Sam’s sister, Katie, soared to the top of the EI 90P class with her mother’s pony, ‘Doctor Pepper’, finishing on their Corey Mawhinney awarded 27.8.
Second place went to Marian Turley’s 14-year-old granddaughter Emily with her mother, Sarah Turley’s, pony ‘Budore Mystic Legend’, who came home less than one point behind. Emily was a very busy girl on Saturday, as she took a last minute ride of Martin McCann’s ‘Boyher Cookies N Crème’ in the EI 90 and came a very credible ninth place out of 27.
Martina McKinley reserved her top marks in the EI 80 class for Gillian Neill from Comber, who was competing ‘The Crafty Fox’, a six-year-old gelding by Lancelot, whom she bought from the sales as an unbroken four-year-old and produced herself. This is his first season eventing and represents Gillian’s return to the sport after a 12-year hiatus. Their performance to date certainly augurs well for a successful partnership in the three-disciplined sport.
Second place went to Eimear Watson, who is a total debutante this year. She attended the Grassroots Information Evening run by the Northern Region in February to get an insight into what was involved and decided to give it a go. At the time, she was in the middle of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer, but decided that getting to an event might be the goal that she needed to see her through her medical condition. She said that, by way of preparation, she read the ‘Beginners’ Guide to Eventing’ about four times and took the horse by the reins and the rest is history. Previously, she had competed at some Riding Club activities, but has definitely been bitten by the eventing bug. She certainly is a busy lady as mother of two children and a full-time job as Ward Manager of an Intensive Care Unit.
What a truly inspirational lady and what a result!
RESULTS
Saturday, July 20
Tullymurry 2
EI 110 Open:
1) Jonathan Steele, Zermatt; 2) Steven Smith, Premier Lara; 3) Toni Quail, Wellan Summertime; 4) Ralph Robinson, Dermish Chill; 5) Steven Smith, Handsome Starr; 6) Tom Rowlatt-McCormick, R Ballerina.
EI 110:
1) Cathal Daniels, Shannondale Micah; 2) Steven Smith, Carrickview Calvani; 3) Steven Smith, Newferry Aga Kann; 4) Abby Coakley, Toome Carrick Jimmy; 5) Rafael Sanctuary, Seychelles Candy; 6) Jonathan Steele, Somerville Springheeled.
EI 110 J:
1) Erin McClernon, Seapatrick Beachball; 2) James Murphy, Kylestone Carrick Prince; 3) Shannon Hunter, Lady Lux Dignified; 4) Elsie Barry, Castletown Lad.
EI 110 P:
1) Phonsie Wardell, Kinamara Bright Star.
EI 110 Amateur:
1) Britt Megahey, R Showman; 2) Denis Currie, Arodstown Aramis; 3) Nichola Wray, Dylan; 4) Dean Salmon, Tullymurry Seana.
EI 100 Amateur:
1) Jaclyn Brackenridge, Comanche Arrow; 2) Ciarrai Rice, Lady J; 3) Aimee Webb, Imperial Matriarch; 4) Ros Morgan, Vos Surprise; 5) Rachel Williams, Tignabruaich; 6) Samantha Dale, Threeseas.
EI 100 P:
1) Kirsty Greene, Our Girl; 2) Rory Connaughton, Independant Johnny; 3) Sarah Gilchrist, Hazeldene Mighty Max; 4) Oliver Kinnear, Rosedale Sandstorm; 5) Anna Boucher-Hayes, Brambles Bartholomew; 6) Eve Lindsay, Arctic Light.
EI 100 J:
1) Katie Robinson, Ophelia Cruise; 2) Aoife Gribben, Wildfire; 3) Hannah Groves, BGS Tea or Coffee; 4) Eimhear Donaghy, TMS Freedom; 5) Caitlin Woods, Greygrove Delight; 6) Elsie Barry, Waverley.
EI 100:
1) Holly Wray, R Diva; 2) Lesley Jones, Quality Choice; 3) Jonathan Steele, Cosmic Dancer; 4) Holly Wray, Conor; 5) Laura Napier, Burrenhill Jaguar; 6) Casey Webb, Newferry Number One.
EI 100 T:
1) Sam Hamilton, Yewtree Hill; 2) Maria Carr, Texan Style; 3) Chirag Sherawat, Lates Capri.
EI 90 Amateur:
1) Claire Liddle, Ballytrim Molly; 2) Nicola Martin, Dundrum Misty Blue; 3) Katie McKee, Water Paint; 4) Orla Sheehan, Bear With Us; 5) Cieran Greeves, Georgie; 6) Charlotte Moffitt, Chivelar Watchman.
EI 90:
1) Ian McCluggage, Meadowspring; 2) Sam Forbes, DCS Millhouse Platinum; 3) Jo Andrews, Lucere; 4) Rebecca Fletcher, Lagans OBOS Premier; 5) Jonathan Steele, Mharla Majestic Lady; 6) Victoria Clarke, Diamond Yeats.
EI 90 P:
1) Katie Forbes, Doctor Pepper; 2) Emily Turley, Budore Mystic Legend; 3) Gracie-Thompson-Logan, Fiddain Dash; 4) Tilley Tumilty, Barnadown Lad; 5) Kelsea Maginnis, Atlantic Clover Star; 6) Isabella Irwin, Molly XX.
EI 90 T:
1) Jonathan Hagan, Bubblegum; 2) Johnny Mulligan, Rathdrum Spirit; 3) Casey Webb, Desdemona; 4) Charlotte Glenn, Paddy Maloney; 5) Rowena McCormick, Indigo Rose; 6) Zara Flores-Kinney, Prince Denarii.
EI 80:
1) Gillian Neill, The Crafty Fox; 2) Eimear Watson, Gaurlin Lady; 3) Karina McVeigh, Cococabana; 4) Lucy Ferris, Duncarberry Cascade; 5) Lynsey Kennedy, Izzey Miyake; 6) Amy Louise Clarke, Fire Heart Flash.
EI 80 T:
1) Conor. Savage, Gina; 2) Flora Crawford, Inisharoan Orlagh; 3) Abbie Harkness, Moneylagan Dawn; 4) Holly Carville, Tullans Roxy.