The 2023 National Championships may not have had the smoothest of starts, with a change of venue just three weeks out from the competition, but with well over 300 entries, they were a huge success. Danny and Michelle Dulohery of Kilguilkey House stepped up to run when it was decided that the ground at Castle Irvine, Necarne, would not have been able to sustain the Championships.
Huge thanks go to Danny and Michelle, and their team, for stepping in to run at such late notice, and presenting a fantastic track. Thank you as well to all of the volunteers and officials, without whom we would not be able to hold any events. Many thanks also to our sponsors, NutriScience Equine, Yeomanstown Stud, Treo Eile and Horse Sport Ireland. Their support is vital to the continued success of the sport.
Robbie Kearns took home the EI120 National Championship title, with Richard Ames’s Ballyvillane OBOS (ISH). The combination held 3rd place after dressage, moving up to 2nd overnight after Show Jumping. They were the only partnership to record no time penalties Cross Country, leaving them 6.5 penalties clear of 2nd place Patrick Whelan and Edel Nolan’s TIH, Denis Finch Hatton, who climbed from 10th after Dressage with a double jumping clear and just 2.8 time faults Cross Country.
The NutriScience Equine EI115 Open title went to John Tilley and Kilkenny International’s Licence to Cooley (KWPN.) After lying 5th overnight, they recording a double clear inside the time to finish on their dressage score of 35.2, with Patrick Whelan taking another 2nd place on Hans Kuehnle’s Joyce L (OLD.)
In the NutrScience Equine EI110, Suzanne Hagan recorded a win on her dressage score of 23.3, with Anne Magee and Jane Hancock’s Karolita O (KWPN.) Sarah Ennis piloted OnceUponATime (ISH), owned by Deirdre Connolly, to second place.
In the EI100 National Championship, Kate Solon led from start to finish on her own TIH, Oakport Ringo Star. The combination recorded a 25.5 dressage, and had nothing to add in the jumping phases. David O’Connor finished second with Helen Fletcher’s Sir Barnabus, again finishing on their dressage score of 26.3.
Gemma Esler took home the EI90 National Championship title, on Norma Wilkinson’s Remember Bea (ISH). The combination finished on dressage of 22.9, ahead of Daisy Trayford on her own Waterdale Cardento (ISH.) Gemma also finished 5th in the same class, on her own Punters Dream (TB.)
The EI80 class recorded some of the best dressage scores of the Championships, with the top 6 all finishing on sub-30 scores. Melanie Purcell on her own TIH, FHS High Waltzer, took the EI80 title, with Holly Rice on Julie Rice’s Supreme Dream (TB) narrowly beaten into 2nd place. Holly and Supreme Dream also won the Treo Eile leading Thoroughbred prize, for their finishing score of 23.3.
Junior Classes
Matthew Love and DSL Allegra (ISH) led from start to finish in the Yeomanstown Stud EI110J, adding just one Show Jumping pole to an incredible dressage score of 22.5. They finished less than two penalties ahead of Tom Rowlatt-McCormick and Clare Steele’s R Ballerina (ISH), who jumped double clear to finish on their dressage score of 28.7.
The EI100J was one of the closest competitions of the Championship, with 9 of the top 10 finishing on their dressage scores. In the end, it was Kate A Walsh and Clare Corballis’s Connemara Pony, Beechtree Watchful, who came out on top, just 0.9 penalties ahead of Maria Fouhy on her mother’s Hillcrest Horizon (ISH).
Pony Classes
Connemaras dominated in the pony classes, making up two thirds of the top three at every level!
Elsie Barry made her first ever win at EI110(P) level a special one, as she took home the National Championship title on her mother’s Connemara pony, Castletown Lad. The combination add just one Show Jumping pole to their dressage score of 32.4, to take the win just ahead of Andrew Walsh and Battlestown Delight (CP).
In the EI100(P) class, Amelia Scott and Eleanor Scott’s Gelato (TIH) continued their hugely successful 2023, with a Championship win on their dressage of 25.9. Elsie Barry had another great result with 2nd place at this level on Avalon Inis Sle (CP.)
Eventing Ireland newcomer, Tilley Tumilty, took the win in the EI90(P) class on her mother’s Barnadown Lad (CP.) In their first season, the combination have finished in the top 5 in 7 of their 8 starts. Grace Mahon took 2nd place on Regina Hoctor’s Connemara pony, Murvey Katie.
Amateur Classes
Sharon Power was the only sub-30 dressage score in the EI110 Amateur class, on her own Tullibards Benny and Jess (OLD.) They added just 4 Cross Country time penalties to that, to win the class on 31.2. Nichola Wray on Dylan, AKA Springhill Showman, took second place, finishing on their dressage of 34.6.
The EI100 Amateur class showed some incredible jumping, as only two of the eleven competitors had anything jumping faults to add to their dressage scores. Lucy Toombs and Alison F Smith’s Bluestone Ice (ISH), recorded their third win of the season, just ahead of Ciarrai Rice and her own Lady J (ISH), who are new to EI100 level in 2023.
Holly Conte won the EI90 Amateur title, on her own VHC Howitzer (ISH). They finished on their dressage of 27.6, just 0.8 penalties ahead of second place Johanna Herron and the owner-ridden Twentypark Emperess (ISH).
