Finvoy Reigns Supreme
Steven smith on Bonito, winner of the CNC* Class. Photograph supplied courtesy of Sporting Images
Saturday saw the Eventing fraternity from all over Ireland head north to Finvoy for the latest Northern Region event which was hosted by Mr and Mrs Alan Campbell and family. This was the second year for this venue, nestled in the North Antrim hills, where there was plenty of attention to detail in all aspects of the show. The course, which was initially designed by Sonya Rowe and Tony McManmon, asked plenty of questions across the board. The Campbell family, along with Tony McManmon, worked tirelessly to ensure that the Event ran despite the heavy rainfall of the past few weeks. A fleet of Claas tractors from Erwin’s of Nutts Corner was on hand to deal with any exiting emergencies, courtesy of Trevor Campbell, Manager of Claas Ireland.
The day’s proceedings were opened by the O/CNC* competitors where it was a fait accomplie for Tydavnet’s Catherine McNally on her very reliable 10 year old Dutch bred gelding, DG Lions Fort. They went out cross country sixteen points clear of James O’Haire whose journey from Naas was very eventful. A few missed turn-offs en route extended his journey time but he got the qualifying results he needed in both classes.
Victory in the U25 CNC* class went to Johnny Mulligan on Gina Johnston’s Valentino Red with Alex Houston and Derrylossett Bay Beauty slotting into 2nd place.
Steven Smith and Bonito claimed victory in the main CNC* class where they finished on their flatwork mark, almost four points clear of Tegan White and the homebred skewbald gelding, Texan Style, who had a much shorter distance to travel than most weeks.
Fiona cooper on Lisnahall Mojave Pebbles, winner of the Junior C class, Photograph supplied courtesy of Sporting Images
The top of the leaderboard in the Tredstep Junior Rider Series CNCJ* class was dominated by Southern riders and was particularly successful for Richard Wilkie from Glaslough, Co Monaghan, who secured two of the top six placings. He had a very comfortable win on his father’s Val Thorens, a 13 year old mare by Don Juan de la Bouverie, by a margin of fifteen over Cian Weldon and the Minstral Boy.
Sportsman A had just 4 competitors this week with Vicky Clegg and Villa Imp repeating their win from Tyrella 3 and Denis Currie and Bering Strait slotting into 2nd place ahead of our host in two weeks time, Britt Megahey who moved up from Sportsman B.
Fionn Clarke who had just returned home from a very successful showjumping trip to Fonteinbleu, continued her great performance with a convincing win in the CNCP** class on her mother’s super little 8 year old pony, Black Velvet Band. Emma Comerford from Maynooth who was piloting two ponies at Finvoy, claimed 2nd place.
Meantime competition was as tense as ever in the Sportsman B camp with a few new additions to the fold, some of them recruits from last week’s Try Eventing at Tyrella. Joy Lindsay, who was equal first after dressage, kept a cool head for showjumping and cross country to finish on her dressage score and win the class due to an unfortunate lowering of a coloured pole by Bianca McElnea who was delighted to settle for 2nd place on Rosso Tramonto.
Time penalties played a big part in the final result of the Tri Equestrian Pre Novice League where Steven Smith had a 1,2 – the win on Sarah Gallagher’s Dutch bred gelding, Van Gough and second on Clare Abbott’s 6 year old gelding, Bellaney Express.
Showjumping penalties played a major part in the final outcome of the Junior C class where there were only two faultless rounds. One of those went to Fiona Cooper on her mother’s skewbald mare, Lisnahave Mojave Pebbles which moved her up four places to claim the winning rosette just short of one mark ahead of Leah Jackson and Cardy Spring who had devoted a day of fence judging at Tyrella 3.
It was déjà vu for Justine Harding and Georgia Stubington’s Winterfold Ivy who repeated last year’s win at Finvoy in the CNCP* class. Justine is another competitor who has enjoyed competition success across the water, having picked up rosettes in the recent Pony Club dressage Championships at Moreton Morell.
The LAFARGE TARMAC Intro class saw changing fortunes for some of the early leaders. However that was not the case for the winner, Lisa Corry on her own home-bred Moothyeb six year old mare who was absolutely delighted to record a Finvoy win. Caroline Dinning moved up four notches from the first phase to also finish on her flatwork score on her own Master Imp mare, Rathcarraig Cool Imp.
It was top marks for Lucy Lamont and Yogi Bear in the Pony C class as the impressive combination took the winning rosette on their maiden outing with the final Tyrella winner, Ella Boyle, taking second place on Granstown Bobby Dazzler and we are delighted to report that, this week, her father, Nick, was able to remain inside the commentary box for the duration of Ella’s cross country round – paternal progress indeed!
It was certainly a good day for ‘Team Maddybenny’ in the Sportsman C class where victory went to Tegan White on Culcoill while Philip picked up a 4th placing on Louisianna. Kathryn Marshall, whose Mum was busy fence judging, also had a great day with a 2nd placing on Aristocrat and Amanda Speers was delighted that Jim Stevenson’s Diamond Ed delivered a 3rd placing for her.
The Northern Region of Eventing Ireland would like to extend a huge thank you to the entire Campbell family for their hospitality and welcome to Finvoy, not to mention all the hard work which they and Tony McMenamin put in to designing and building the course and creating a very welcome addition to our Northern Region calendar. A sincere thank you also goes to Eavan White and the members of the Route Branch of the Pony Club, Route Hunt and Bann Valley Riding Club, who collectively provided the majority of helpers on the day as well as the hospitality unit – we really could not have operated without you all. Thanks, too, to Causeway Coast Showjumpers for the use of their Judges’ Box which provided great comfort to our Judges on the day, Janet Currie and Noosha Daragh.
Alan Campbell would also like to record his appreciation to everyone involved with the event for their support and co-operation, both before, during and after and, especially to all the competitors, many of whom travelled a great distance to Finvoy.
Finally, a massive note of appreciation goes to Nicky and Richard Nesbitt whose incredible stamina and ability to get things done, knows no bounds. Their quiet efficiency meant a very successful event with superb hospitality. Finvoy was undoubtedly the best signposted event to date! As always, thanks too to all our helpers on the day, without whom these events could not proceed.
Photographs on the day were taken by Sporting Images and can be viewed on www.sportingimagesni.co.uk
Next week’s scheduled event at Rademon is cancelled so the following week will see action move to the brand new venue of Glenpatrick courtesy of the Megahey family. Anyone who would like to be a volunteer on the day should contact Dora on 07876758979.
Full Results
O/CNC*
1. Catherine McNally, DG Lions Fort 2. James O’Haire, Portability 3. Alison Crothers, Waikato Ko 4. Alexander Mills, Imagine If
U25 CNC*
1. Johnny Mulligan, Valentino Red 2. Alex Houston, Derrylossett Bay Beauty 3. Amy McMillan, Lisbane Diamond 4. Orlagh Daly, Lisadian Love
CNC*
1. Steven Smith, Bonito 2. Tegan White, Texan Style 3. Oinri Jackson, Sallymount Du Cruise 4. James O’Haire, China Doll 5. Toby McAlpine, Rum Jumbie 6. Clare Abbott, Oakley
Tredstep Junior Rider Series CNCJ*
1. Richard Wilkie, Val Thorens 2. Cian Weldon, The Minstral Boy 3. Taragh Brady, Millford Sound 4. Richard Wilkie, Single Malt 5. Harold Megahey, Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier 6. Lydia Dawson, Gloster Boy
Sportsman A
1. Vicky Clegg, Villa Imp 2. Denis Currie, Bering Strait 3. Britt Megahey, Big Max 4. Emily Morris, Florida Bud
CNCP**
1. Fionn Clarke, Black Velvet Band 2. Emma Comerford, Ballycurraghan EC Cuba
Sportsman B
1. Joy Lindsay, Lassban Au Revoir 2. Bianca McElnea, Rosso Tramonto 3. Shane Belton, The Irish Comedian 4. Dawn Clerkin, The Sailor’s Girl 5. Russell Alexander, Cuan Cottown Charlie 6. Pauline Faloon, Carlingford Sebastian
Tri Equestrian Pre Novice League
1. Steven Smith, Van Gough 2. Steven Smith, Bellaney Express 3. Andrew Scott, Glenhill Lady 4. Toby McAlpine, MJI Canadian Clipper 5. Rachel Croskery, Jupiters Fable 6. Joanne Jarden, MJI Dynamis
Junior C
1. Fiona Cooper, Lisnahall Mojave Pebbles 2. Leah Jackson, Cardy Spring 3. Rachel Gilroy, Junior 4. Lauren Johnston, Thamesford 5. Casey Webb, Arial 6. Nadine McClelland, Jay Dee
CNCP*
1. Justine Harding, Winterfold Ivy 2. Emma Comerford, Colour Me Fancy
LAFARGE TARMAC Intro
1. Lisa Corey, Meribel Rock 2. Caroline Dinning, Rathcarraig Cool Imp3. Jemma McMullan, Ringfort Juno 4. Joseph Evans, Have the Courage 5. Alison Crothers, Oxmountain Gold . David O’Connor, Tullymurry Suzie
Pony C
1. Lucy Lamont, Yogi Bear 2. Ella Boyle, Granstown Bobby Dazzler 3. Fionn Clarke, My Gypsey Rose 4. Bonnie Smith, Peggy Sue 5. Hollie Smith, Gucci 111
Sportsman C
1. Tegan White, Culcoill 2. Kathryn Marshall, Aristocrat 3. Amanda Speers, Diamond Ed 4. Philip White, Louisianna 5. Donna Barron, The Diamond Duchess 6. Carole Young, What A Diamond
