Even persistent heavy drizzle all morning did not prevent the competitors managing to get through the floods to taking an opportunity to get a run out. The horrific breaking news of Stephen Moore's untimely passing added to the gloom of the incessant rain, but increased the determination of all to pull together.
The Open Novice class was won by Heather Lynch on Lassban Don Shakira with Colin Halliday on Gallant Cavalier second ahead of Sarah Ennis on Sugar Brown Babe, Trevor Smith on The Dock fourth, Joseph Murphy on Electric Cruise fifth and Sarah Ennis on GI Mimi sixth. Sarah had a total of five entries and continued successful trip North with placing in other classes.
The Novice class saw Suzanne Ronaghan on The Dalai Lama move well ahead of the field to take first place. Colin Halliday continued his success on Butterfly Orchid with second. Sarah Ennis on Walterstown Don took third ahead of Trevor Smith on Graf Landmark again in fourth, and fifth on Pennan's Midnight Express, while Rachel Robinson slotted into sixth with Legal Legacy.
The Junior Novice class saw only two of the three starters complete, with Sarah Noonan making the journey North with Goldengrove Gingerbread Man to take first place ahead of Poppy Law travel from County Meath to pick up second on Westwinds Debonaire.
The Equiform Nutrition Sportsmans A, sponsored by HorseboxIreland.com saw sole competitor Ian Wilson complete in first place with his own Vesey Boy.
The Equiform Nutrition Sportsmans B, sponsored by HorseboxIreland.com, saw seven combinations start with David Mortell take first place on BBB Bossy Boots, Bill Hoyne take Toberra Hugo into second, and Ben Stevenson take Gold Quest into third.
The largest class of the day was Pre-Novice which was split. Section A was won by Stuart Crawford on Amacuzzi, ahead of Nicholas Corr on Twilight Sarina, Joseph Murphy on Lisa's Bay (3rd), Rachelle Harding on Parkstown Hector (4th), Grace Irwin on My Faithful Diamond (5th) and Trevor Smith on RoccoII (6th).
Section B saw Ross Crawford not to be outdone by older brother and take first place with Parfait Demoiselle into first place, followed by Sarah Ennis on Moss Star (2nd), Joseph Murphy on Howya Chuck (3rd), Sarah Moore on What a Diamond (4th), Beverley Caves on Colour Stylr (5th), and Lisa Dundee take Hilary Redmond's Camusrory into sixth.
The intro class for the second week running had to complete their cross-country in horrendous rain. The top slot was claimed by Lisa Dundee on Rathcarraig Mist, followed by Lisburn's Clare Sloan on Rose Delvin, and Susan Cummiskey on Coondara Dancer in third. Fourth place was held by Claire Foster on Elamo Lucky Clover, while Samantha Hamilton took fifth on Caoimhe a'Chara.
It may be hard to believe but the middle part of the day remained dry and the competition was strong in all classes. While later in the day the rain was extremely heavy and many diversions had to made for everyone to get home safely from the event with roads flooded all over the place.
Needless to say this weather has had an effect on the ground for next Saturday (23 August) with the organising team, consulting the landowner have decided to cancel the event at Craigantlet. Consideration will be give to sourcing an alternative date which will be published on website www.eventingireland.com if established.
Results
O/CNC*: 1. Lassban Don Shakira - Heather Lynch (44.5); 2. Gallant Cavalier - Colin Halliday (45.8); 3. Sugar Brown Babe - Sarah Ennis (47.1); 4. The Dock - Trevor Smith (47.6); 5. Electric Cruise - Joseph Murphy (52.7); 6. GI Mimi - Sarah Ennis (72.1)
CNC*: 1. The Dalai Lama - Suzanne Ronaghan (28.6); 2. Butterfly Orchid - Colin Halliday (32.4); 3. Walterstown Don - Sarah Ennis (35.7); 4. Graf Landmark - Trevor Smith (38.2); 5. Penanns Midnight Express - Trevor Smith (38.7); 6. Legal Legacy - Rachel Robinson (38.7)
CNCJ*: 1. Goldengrove Gingerbread Man - Sarah Noonan (38.4); 2. Westwinds Debonaire - Poppy Law (120.4)
Equiform Nutrition Sportsmans League (A Riders) Sponsored by Horsebox Ireland.com: 1. Vesey Boy - Ian Wilson (59.3)
Equiform Nutrition Sportsmans League (B Riders) Sponsored by Horsebox Ireland.com: 1. B.B.B. Bossy Boots - David Mortell (31.2), 2. Toberra Hugo - Bill Hoyne (36.4), 3. Gold Quest - Ben Stevenson (43.3)
CNCP*: 1. Loughnatousa Zac - Sophie Roberta Bell (33.4); 2. Seapatrick Hamish - Atalanta Purce (34); 3. Tino Rossi - Victoria Mills (34); 4. Lisnamann Full Force – Daniel Brown (39.6); 5. Kellys Cappuccino - Sophie Roberta Bell (58.5)
Junior C: 1. Marque - Victoria Mills (28); 2. Kilcooley Master Fred - Jennifer McKibben (34); 3. Watchmacallit - Oliver Lawrence (35.5); 4. Tax Demand - Rebecca Woolf (59.1)
Pre-Novice (Section A) Sponsored by Lafarge Cement: 1. Amacuzzi - Stuart Crawford (30); 2. Twilight Sarina - Nicholas Corr (35); 3. Lisa's Bay - Joseph Murphy (35.5); 4. Parkstown Hector - Rachelle Harding (36); 5. My Faithful Diamond - Grace Irwin (37); 6. Rocco II - Trevor Smith (37)
Pre-Novice (Section B) Sponsored by Lafarge Cement: 1. Parfait Demoiselle - Ross Crawford (33.5); 2. Moss Star - Sarah Ennis (34.5); 3. Howya Chuck - Joseph Murphy (35); 4. What A Diamond - Sarah Moore (36); 5. Colour Style - Beverley Caves (36.5); 6. Camusrory - Lisa Dundee (38)
Intro: 1. Rathcarraig Mist - Lisa Dundee (37.2); 2. Rose of Delvin - Clare Sloan (37.9); 3. Coondara Dancer - Susan Cummiskey (41.6); 4. Tullymurry Top Gun - Elaine Turley (45.8); 5. Elamo Lucky Clover - Claire Foster (46.3); 6. Caoimhe a'Chara - Samantha Hamilton (50.8)