Audrey's Delight at Portmore

Rafael Suarez, resident course designer, put all his talents into play to develop very sympathetic but challenging courses, designed to encourage the young horses and stimulate the more experienced.

The busiest class of the day was the 1.10m where the standard of jumping was exceptionally high. Joe Harris from Waringstown stole the show with a brilliant round against the clock on his ten year old gelding, Coppindell Concorde. He was followed by James Hogg from Maguiresbridge riding Edgar Hogg’s five year old Beach Ball gelding, Intuitive who broke the beam just one second slower.

Local man, Noel McKee, claimed the yellow rosette with Keeford Sundance, his very striking seven year old gelding by Camiro de Haar Z out of a Friary Clover mare.

The 1.20m class saw Magherafelt’s Olivia McCormack rise to the fore with a blistering round on her six year old Cardento mare, Palinka.

A relatively new recruit to showjumping, having previously pursued a career in racing, Paddy Merrigan took the runner up spot with Aine McPeake’s Durgane.

Aoife Owens was rewarded for her trip from Sixmilewater by claiming third place on Denise Owens’s Erribella Flight.

The final class of the day, the 1.30m, was rewarding for Barry McCormack, one of the busiest competitors, who claimed victory with his own Armani Velvet, a gelding by Heartbreaker out of a mare by Burggraaf. Olivia McCormack was in the ribbons again by taking second on Shanemullagh Lady while Zoe Woods picked up third spot on Kilronan Chin.

The happiest competitor of the day was undoubtedly Audrey Hunter who delivered a foot perfect double clear on her mare Cushnahan’s Zoe in the 90cms class in the morning, having recently returned to the saddle and is clearly enjoying her success.

There will be no registered jumping at Portmore this Sunday but action returns on Friday, March 11, for the start of the three day show which continues through Saturday and Sunday. The feature class of Saturday will be the 1.35m Connollys Red Mills Spring Tour.

All classes on that day (1m, 1.10m, 1.20m and 1.35m) must be pre-entered online with SJI by 4pm on Thursday, March 10.

Sunday’s classes include 90cms, 1m, 1.10m, 1.20m and a 1.30m Mini Grand Prix with a prize fund of £1,000.

Results

80cms: 1st Barry McCormack, D Stud Baywatch

90cms: 1= Audrey Hunter, Cushnahan’s Zoe, Ashlee Irvine, Rivero, Evan Hobson, Promise Me, Natasha Henderson, Snippett, Stephanie Elliott, Nearly A Treasure

1m: 1= Chelsea Robinson, Mr Guidam Cruising, Patrick Boyle, Vupardie, Rachel McKimmon, Watermill Hollie, Brian Smyth, D Douglas SB, John Rafferty, Lehmann, Taryn McClurkin, Innicense, Gareth McCracken, Laurelview Pippa, Ruth O’Brien, Kilcurry Liberos Flight, Sarah Kinnear, Elf Queen, Zoe Woods, Miss Behave, Mark Kinsella, Miss Hilltop Clover, Gareth McCracken, Fidoons Rustic Diamond, Karen Greer, Double Bay, Shannon Robinson, Chardonnay, James Hogg, Intuitive

1.10m: 1. Joe Harris, Coppindell Concorde; 2. James Hogg, Intuitive; 3. Noel McKee, Keeford Sundance; 4. Kathryn O’Hagan, CHS News Flash; 5. Clare Abbott, Timpany Night; 6. Rachel Thompson, Foetsie Van de Brouwershoeve

Additional Double Clears: Emily Turkington, Quantify, Nicole McClements, Foreign Affair, Barry McCormack, Ludovick, Paul Tang, Neat Moonshadow, Shannon Robinson, Auburn Luna, John McKinney, Anjo Diamond Raver, Olivia McCormack, Palinka, Rachel McKimmon, Miss Pretender, Charlotte Harding, Crossmaglen Bandit, Zoe Woods, Miss Behave, Barry McCormack, Moyleview Dancer, Shannon Robinson, Chardonnay, Ronan McSorley, Omard Annie Time, Emily Turkington, Des Le Debut

1.20m: 1. Olivia McCormack, Palinka; 2. Paddy Merrigan, Durgane; 3. Aoife Owens, Erribella Flight; 4. Edward Little, Jack Diamond; 5. Emily Turkington, Jay Gatsby; 6. Rachel McKimmon, Waltham Abbey

1.30m: 1. Barry McCormack, Armani Velvet; 2. Olivia McCormack, Shanemullagh Lady; 3. Zoe Woods, Kilronan Chin; 4. Paddy Merrigan, Durgane; 5. James Hogg, Almost Persuaded.