WITH torrential rain falling in Dublin, the RDS committee were forced to delay the start of the final Young Rider Championships (1.35m-1.40m). Despite allowing for the adverse weather, a huge deluge fell just as the first rider entered the arena.

Credit must be given to all 14 riders who battled the weather while showing utmost talent and professionalism. From the original starters, five combinations maintained clean sheets the first time out to book their place in the jump-off.

First to go, Niamh McEvoy made it look easy as she delivered the first double clear with the Robin Bingham-owned Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick in a time of 43.87, to put it up to the rest. Her lead was short lived as next up, Ciaran Foley’s tight line back to the penultimate oxer with Kingsborough Verdiva saw him gain valuable time as he clocked 42.78 which ultimately earned him the crown.

Ciaran, from Co Wicklow, is going into transition year in school, and was full of praise for his fellow riders and the RDS. “It was extremely tough but we all handled it very well. The course was up to standard and the arena felt good to jump on, despite the heavy rain that fell during the class. I knew it was going to be a fast class and I just had to go for it.”

Owned by Thomas Foley and bred by Cliodhna Carroll from Co Sligo, Kingsborough Verdiva is an 11-year-old mare by Verdi out of the High Roller-sired Macushla Roller.

With a win firmly in mind, Lusk’s Aisling McGuinness cantered into the ring in a determined fashion with Kilderrys Joint Venture, but despite a series of tight lines and a very quick pace to the double, her time of 43.37 proved good enough for second, ahead of McEvoy (Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick).

Katie Conlon was next to take in on with the very experienced Ping Ball, and she had her foot on the accelerator as she crossed the line clear in 44.50 for eventual fourth. All eyes were on last to go Niamh McEvoy with Haifa OL, but her hopes of a win was dashed when she faulted at the penultimate oxer in a time of 44.30 and slotted into fifth. Taking sixth place was Ryan Sweetnam when he incurred four faults in the first round at fence two with Quisto in a time of 72 seconds.

Bursary winner

With the heavy rain adversely affecting jumping conditions, it was decided not to go ahead with the bursary class last Saturday. Instead the bursary was awarded to Niamh McEvoy for her good results over the course of the show. The Leading Young Rider accolade also went to the north as Dylan Ward took this title.

Win for Finney

Earlier, some 20 combinations lined-out for the 1.25-1.30m championship. The challenging course definitely took its toll on this division, as just two riders – Alex Finney and Abigail Boland – booked their place in the jump-off. A further two riders had a single time fault, six had one on the ground and two finished on five faults.

First to go, Alex Finney wasn’t fazed by the challenge and she took it in her stride to deliver the first clear with Absolutely Kingmar Z. Finney was joined in the jump-off by Wexford’s Abigail Boland and The Hurricane.

In the jump-off, Finney set off in a determined pace and made up time from the first and second fence. She negotiated a very tight turn back to the swans oxer that caught a few out in the first round. This along with the tight line back to the last vertical saw her come home clear in 33.40 to take the win.

A delighted Alex Finney said: “I was first to go and I knew once I could keep a good canter, she has a massive stride, I could trust her at the fences. Once I got the double out of the way, I knew I could keep moving and stay tight.”

A new mount for Finney, the horse was previously campaigned by Dermott Lennon who was there to help her on the day, and bred by Gerry Marron.

Abigail Boland and The Hurricane set off strong and looked to be up on target, but four faults at the first part of the double saw her hopes of a win dashed as she crossed the line in 36.34 for second.

Slotting into third place was Eoin Brennan after he incurred a single time fault in the first round with the Richard Bourns-owned Ninparo (79.29), ahead of Conor McLaughlin and Ludiam’s Flame also on a time fault (79.61). Winner of the earlier championship, Dylan Ward was back in the line-up, taking fifth with Diamant De La Mer (8yo), four faults in 73.26, ahead of National Young rider Champion, Robyn Moran and Coolminga Inspector Royal (four faults in 73.53).

Victory for Ward

Twenty qualified combinations in the 1.10m -1.15m were the first of three divisions to contest the championships. As expected, international course designer Alan Wade and his team produced a course fit for a championship, which was technical with the time allowed playing a real factor.

The course demanded careful attention from the start with the line from the first to the second fence catching a few out. This matched with the skinny vertical on to the Celtic Cross accounted for several combinations.

The Children of Lir swan oxer on to the double at seven posed a few questions, as did the combination coming home and then on to the last oxer. As a result, just four booked their place in the timed round.

First to go against the clock, Sean Gormally and CHF Miss Stetter proved out of luck with the six-year-old crossing the line carrying 12 faults in a time of 39.91 for eventual fourth.

Next up, Zoe Mehigan and the Michael Hayden-owned Primo Aliboo Blue posted the first of the double clears in a time of 47.11 to take the lead. The Cork rider cleverly made up time in the turn back to the Celtic Cross vertical and negotiated a great line to the new fence 14.

The pressure was on Jack Murphy as he took to the course with the Valerie O’Reilly-owned MHS Oklahoma (7yo). Murphy set off at a calculated pace and got a good turn from fence one to two.

Like Mehigan, he got a good shot to the Celtic Cross but a longer route back to the double may have cost him time, stopping the clock in 47.27, for provisional second and then eventual third.

Last to go, Dylan Ward knew that there was no space to hang around as he cantered in on the six-year-old Kruser DHH.

The northern rider made up time throughout the course, but it was the tight line back to the new fence 14 that saw him really get the upper hand as he clocked the winning time of 38.61 to take victory and demote Mehigan into second.

On hand to see the win, Luke Campbell, who produces Ward’s horses, said: “I am delighted for Dylan and the family. In terms of the championship, we told him to go for it as there is no point going to Dublin if you aren’t going for the win.

“Dylan has only taken over the horse a few months ago from me and they gelled very well. I produced this horse for Dylan and it’s great to see these memories being made here.

“Dylan dedicated this win to this grandad Hugh who first sat him on a pony and could not be here today to see it.”

Fifth place was filled by Pataire Crawford and Jackstar (7yo) after they incurred a time fault (79.35), ahead of Shauna Helsin and Katesbridge Arabella (7yo) also on a time fault (81.06).