IRELAND’S Denis Lynch and the Hanoverian stallion Cornets Iberio were victorious in the 1.40m LHK sponsored seven-year-old Championship, for the John Higgins Memorial Trophy, in the main arena last Sunday morning.

The winner is by Cornet Obololensky, out of a mare by Charlottenhof’s Iberio, and is owned by Sebastien and Simone Schatzmann.

Just 11 lined out for the final and eight of these progressed to the jump-off. First to go was Sweden’s Angelie Von Essen riding Happiness DK Z (Hooch DK x Andiamo Z). The duo once again kept a clean sheet in the second round stopping the clock at 34.41 to set the pace.

Second into the arena was Irish veteran Grand Prix rider, Waterford’s Francis Connors and Hugh Fitzpatrick’s Lux Z-sired Irish Sport Horse gelding Erne Mountain Dew.

An error at the second fence in a time of 37.77 meant a seventh place finish for the pair.

Fast jump-off

Fresh from his win in the six-year-old championship earlier that, day Jason Foley was next to go riding the Belgian-bred mare Madorada DW, owned by Ger O’Neill and Matteo Pelmglio. Four faults at the fourth fence saw them finish in sixth place in a time of 32.34.

Mikey Pender and his own and Bravo Hughes Ltd-owned and bred HHS Javas Gucci (Luidam x Cruising) joined the list of four faulters when fourth to go. They stopped the clock in 30.31, the second fastest time of the day, which would leave them in fourth.

John Mulligan was also out of luck when Cyril Mulvey’s Irish Sport Horse mare Sliabh Papillion Breaker (by Boswell Mr Heart Breaker) faulted at the second fence. They came home in 35.19 to finish seventh.

Dermott Lennon and his own Aganix Du Seigneur-sired gelding Athletix Hero Z then posted a superb clear round with an impressive gallop to the final fence which saw them break the finish beam in 32.04 to head proceedings momentarily.

Jack Ryan was the penultimate rider with his mother Marguerite’s Cardento Irish Sport Horse gelding BBS McGregor. They fell victim to the same fence as Foley and broke the beam in 31.80 with four to add for fifth place.

Impressive grey

Last to go was Lynch and the impressive grey, Cornet’s Iberio. A well executed, accurate round saw the combination lodge a clear round in a very fast 30.09 to secure the win. The pair had dominated the seven-year-old division for the entire show, winning the first round on Wednesday in Simmonscourt, when over six seconds ahead of closest rival and runner-up Edward Doyle and Mullaghdrin Limber.

Lynch then went on to win the second qualifier on Friday in the main ring, almost three seconds ahead of second placed Dermott Lennon and Athletix Hero Z.