WITH her native Clare falling short against Limerick in the Munster senior hurling final, it fell to Ruan native Suzanne Arthur to fly the flag for the Banner County in Mullingar last weekend at the AIRC Festival.

Suzanne scored 72.05% with the four-year-old Ceide Prince mare Ardoon Katie, bred by her father-in-law Gerry Foley, to win the The Irish FieldYoung Horse class for Burren Riding Club. “She was really good today and I’m delighted with her. Many thanks to my trainer Soraya McNulty, it is only our third outing ever and this is such a big show with the mare taking it all in her stride,” said Suzanne.

Brooke Lodge member Kim McCann scored 72.69% with the Irish Sport Horse chesnut mare Bray Summer Breeze to win the elementary class for the County Dublin club.

Mary O’Connor made her trip from Ballyfinnane near Tralee a worthwhile one with her 20-year-old Connemara Inchmore Ranger, winning the preliminary one class for Kerry Riding Club on a score of 77.50%. “Today everything went well, we were both in great form. Having placed third in 2022 and second last year, we have finally won which is brilliant. Very many thanks to my trainers Mary Bradley and Tara Oliver for all their help,” said a delighted Mary.

Rebecca Matthews scored a win for Co Meath’s Castle Hill Riding Club in the preliminary two class with the eight-year-old Benvarden Keystone mare Benvarden Dakota on 69.90%.