BRITAIN’s Sam El Dahan and WKD Valencia took the top spot in Sunday’s 1.35m jump-off class at the Cavan Autumn Championships in Cavan Equestrian Centre. A mare by Valent out of WKD Jewel (Master Imp), she is owned by El Dahan’s top owner Joanne Sloan Allen.

Some 16 of the 42 starters in the €1,500 class returned first round clears to progress to the decider. El Dahan was the fastest of 11 clears against the clock in a time of 36.06 for the win.

Winner of the previous day’s 1.35m, Kenneth Graham and his own Beir Bua (Lancelot x Cruising), bred by Harold McGahern, took second place in 37.39, while Peter Smyth rode Hugh McCusker’s O Killaloe (Castino x Clover Echo), bred by Newberry E Wilson, into third in 37.56.

Catherine Thornton and her own and David Campbell’s mare Coachella (Ustinov x Cruising), bred by Tom and Linda Magee, slotted into fourth in 37.84, while Robert Harrison and his own CES Wicked Contender (Contendro II x Cavalier) took fifth in 39.71. Robert Russell completed the line-up in sixth aboard Jane Russell’s Ballyrobin Nimmerdor (Lancelot x Gypsy Duke) in 40.88.

Elaine O'Neill and Rosconnell Tango, winners of the HSI four-year-old final at Cavan \ Paul Henson Jumpinaction.net

Four-year-old final

Rosconnell Tango was named four-year-old champion on Sunday at Cavan. Owned by Keith Ennis, the gelding is by Tyson out of CSF Sophie (Goodluck VDL). He was bred by Mairead Lacey and ridden to the win by Elaine O’Neill.

A start list of 19 combinations lined out for the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored class worth €2,000. Judges Mervyn Clarke and Jake Hunter awarded the highest mark of 96.5 to Rosconnell Tango who won by three points.

The runner-up spot went to Olive Clarke riding Olive Broderick’s mare KMS Ballygriffin Max. Also by Tyson out of Max Naughty but Nice (Chacoa), she was bred by Mary McInerney. The duo scored 93.5.

William Lapsley’s home-bred Altaskin Jane (Quite Capitol x Arkan) was ridden into third place by Megan McGettigan on a score of 93. Olive Clarke and her other mount, her own home-bred once again by Tyson out of FSS Spotlight (Cruising Mickey Finn) took fourth on 91.5.

Camryn Clarke and Jordan Coyle’s Diamond Candy Hill (Sligo Candy Boy x Hills of Diamonds), bred by Peter Kearney were sixth on 88.5 points.

Win for Graham

Kenneth Graham and Beir Bua won Saturday’s 1.35m two-phase, taking victory as the fastest of the 15 combinations that managed a double clear round in the 32-strong class. The pair broke the finish beams in a time of 32.24.

Niamh O’Connor Barry and her own eight-year-old Drumiller Vegas (Cardento x Rockhill Clover), bred by Paul Dillon, were runners-up in 33.64. Catherine Thornton and Coachella were third in 34.19. Robert Harrison slotted into fourth with CES Wicked Contender in 34.89.

Fifth went to young rider Tadhg McKiernan riding Gabriel Slattery’s Dutch-bred eight-year-old Castlelawn King Claudius in 35.40, while sixth went to Elaine O’Neill and Keith Ennis’ Belgian-bred gelding GL FVD.

Maxim Van Overis Z a Belgian-bred gelding by Machno Carwyn, owned by Pamela Posnett and ridden by her daughter Suzanne, won Sunday’s 1.30m six and seven-year-old Cavan Classic qualifier.

The pair posted a second-round time of 29.18 to secure the win. Mick Smith’s seven-year-old mare Dance Monkey (Cobra x Quidam), bred by Denis O’Brien, took second place in 31.91 when ridden by Feaha Moore.

Regula Wassmer’s Tullabeg Jackson (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Olympic Lux), bred by Nicholas Cousins and ridden by Megan McGettigan, were third in 33.29.

Fourth went to Lord Archie (Lord Z x Star Cruise), owned and ridden by Sorcha North, in 33.84 while fifth was young rider Sadhbh Cuffe aboard Cathy Cuffe’s six-year-old Dunard Chill Out Lui (Luidam x Heritage Fortunus) bred by Dominic Vallely. Cait Kenny and Sorcha Kenny’s seven-year-old gelding Good Guy D’Authuit took sixth.

Jackson one-two

Emma Jackson scored a one-two when she rode her own German-bred stallion Kylestone Cashel to the win Sunday’s 1.20m. The duo stopped the clock at 37.73 to prove best of the large field of 90 starters.

Jackson also took second place aboard her other mount, Sharon Eadie’s home-bred eight-year-old stallion Vanderbitt (Beach Ball x Atlantic Cruise) in 38.11.

Claire Penny’s Ballygriffin Autonomous (Chacoa x Curraghchase Lady), bred by Anthony Cregan, was third with Fia Penny Taylor in the saddle. Young rider Alfie Adair and Lauren Curry’s Curraghgraigue Prophess Two (Cobra x Errigal Flight), bred by Baden Powell, took fourth.

Adair and his other mount, Caltra Artic (Chillout x Harlequin Du Carel), owned by William Jnr Adair, slotted into fifth.

Cavan Equestrian’s own home-bred five-year-old mare Cherry Candy Girl (Sligo Candy Boy x Larino), ridden by Kelda Jauvert, finished in sixth.

Paul McDermott guided the Kennedy Brothers Sporthorses’ six-year-old gelding KBS Calvo Lad (OBOS Quality 004 x Cavalier Royale), bred by Peter Rice, to win Saturday’s 1.30m two-phase with a very quick second phase time of 37.07.

Olivia Roulston, riding Aisling Doherty’s six-year-old Sydney PMD (Quidam Junior x Cumano), bred by Patrick O’Dea, took the runner-up spot in 39.43.

Pamela Posnett’s Maxim Van Overis Z was guided into third by Suzanne Posnett in 40.24, while Posnett and her other mount, Roisin Hughes’ Roxborough Euphoria (Camiro De Haar Z x Hallowed Turf), were fourth.

Peter Smyth slotted into fifth with Hugh Mc Cusker’s O Killaloe, while Avril Smurfit and her own German-bred Kalirmo-PM were sixth.