British riders fill the top three slots after the first day of dressage in the senior competition at Loughanmore, with Lucy Challis leading on the veteran Kibah Bossa Nova, closely followed by William Fox-Pitt and the Irish export Moon Man.
In difficult ground conditions that got stickier as the day progressed, the 14-year-old Kibah Bossa Nova gave a very smart display marred only by a stumble in the second medium trot. But his Hampshire jockey was thrilled with the horse, as both sides of the partnership have been on the easy list for the past year.
The rider was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia after "keeling over" just before the cross-country at Bramham last year. Doctors decided against surgery, worried that a fall could rupture the scar tissue, and instead placed their patient on a strict diet. "No caffeine, no fags, no fizzy drinks, no fun", she said yesterday.
With his human partner well recovered, the horse was then off the circuit after an operation for his wind in May of this year, but has had four intermediate runs on the English circuit in preparation for his trip to Ireland.
William Fox-Pitt's Moon Man, which is a mere 0.8 of a penalty off the pace, has also been running at intermediate level, winning at Belton in the spring and finishing in the money in the intermediate championships at Gatcombe last month.
Caroline Pratt and Primitive Control complete the British trio at the top, with Alison Kissock best of the home side on the lovely little dun gelding Dun An Ri. The Irish pair just shade Olympic champion Blyth Tait on the grey Eze, who had the toughest draw of all, last into the arena for the worst of the ground yesterday evening.
Claire Gilna, who so often in the past has had to play second fiddle to best friend Susan Shortt, heads the one-star with the talented seven-year-old Red Quest. The pair earned top marks from all three judges and were the only ones to break the 50-penalty barrier for a two-point lead over Jane O'Flynn and Primo Belle.
The Accordion gelding Red Quest, which was bought by Dublin chemist Tony Walsh at the end of last year, has three one-day wins to his credit, but is tackling his first three-day here at Loughanmore.
Jane O'Flynn, who will be flying the Irish flag at the World Equestrian Games in Rome at the end of the month, has the slimmest of advantages over New Zealander Fiona Fraser.
Fermanagh District Council two-star (placings after first day of dressage) - 1, Britain's Kibah Bossa Nova (Lucy Challis), 48.8 penalties; 2, Britain's Moon Man (William FoxPit), 50.6; 3, Britain's Primitive Control (Caroline Pratt), 52.8; 4, Ireland's Dun An Ri (Alison Kissock), 53.8; 5, New Zealand's Eze (Blyth Tait), 54.0; 6, Britain's Arden Beverley Westwood (Cressida Clague-Reading), 54.6.
Necarne Castle one-star (placings after first day of dressage) - 1, Ireland's Red Quest (Claire Gilna), 49.4 penalties; 2, Ireland's Primo Belle (Jane O'Flynn), 51.4; 3, New Zealand's Monty Python III (Fiona Fraser), 51.8; 4, Ireland's Tivoli's Babooshka (Suzanne Donnelly), 54.0; 5, Ireland's Broomfield Ace (Pam Horan), 54.4; 6, Britain's Suberben (Tiny Clapham), 55.0.
