THE last chance to qualify for a place at this year’s RDS National Championships in Dublin from August 18th to 22nd took place on Wednesday at Barnadown, Co Wexford, where all five competitions were sponsored by George Mullins Horse Transport.

The hotly contested five-year-old division saw 57 contenders go to post for the three-round class which offered 12 qualifying spots.

Just five riders managed to keep a clean sheet over all three rounds. Millie MF, ridden by Darragh Ryan, proved best of these when the pair lodged a jump-off time of 41.33 to take the win. Owned by Holly Miller, she is by Guidam Junior and out of Contend Heraldik (Contender) and was bred by Kedrah House Stud.

Kathryn Duffy’s PLS Executive, a gelding by Castlecomer Q out of PLS Halo Vendi (ARS Vivendi), bred by William McDonnell and ridden by young rider Oisin Dillon, took the runner-up spot when they posted a time of 41.96.

Third went to Barbara Allen riding Edward Widger’s DDC Hera Star, a mare by Goodluck VDL who was bred by Derek Conway. They recorded a time of 43.35. Olivia Burns and Captain Candy Man were fourth in 43.92. A gelding by Sligo Candy Boy out of Captains Lady (Captain Clover), Captain Candy is owned and bred by Gabriel Slattery Jnr.

Oliver Glancy and his own Clonterm Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky x Lux Z), bred by Brian Duff, slotted into fifth in 48.95, while Francis Derwin Jnr took sixth on Carol Gee’s KWPN gelding Leonardo (I’m Special De Muze x Voltaire) as the fastest four-faulter in 40.37.

The six remaining qualifying places went to Sophie Richards and her own gelding Newmarket Patriot (Newmarket Venture x Clover Hill), Tomas Doyle riding Marti Rudd’s Monbeg Conspiracy (Obos Quality x Conspiracy), Conor McLaughlin riding Creggan Quality (Goodluck VDL x OBOS Quality 004), Alex Donohoe and Pierce Doyle’s Kilcoltrim Krishna (Kannan x Cruising), Abigail Staffford and her own Cobra D (Cobra x Ard VDL Douglas), and Kevin McCabe with his own Galwaybay Sparkie (Spartacus x Clinton).

Six-year-olds

In the six-year-old division, Orla Cassidy’s Whitetree Endeavour dominated when posting a third round clear in a time of 47.06 to take the win. By Vancouver out of Mig (Telling Tales), the mare was bred by Tena Kenny-Murray.

Abigail Boland guided Mary Boland’s BP Fandango to second place with a jump-off time of 48.46. BP Fandango is a gelding by Elvis Ter Putte out of Galwaybay Wandas (VDL Arkansas) and was bred by Greg Broderick’s GBBS Ltd.

The Army Equitation School’s Captain Charlene Kehoe slotted into third place in a time of 48.91 aboard Jessica Stallard and the Minister for Defence’s DHF Alliance. Bred by Paul Douglas, DHF Alliance is by ARD VDL Douglas out of Rosie Bee (Lux Z).

Fortside Clever Candy and young rider Robyn Moran were fourth in 49.27. By Sligo Candy Boy and out of Clever Queen Lux (Lux Z), the gelding was bred by Brian O’Malley.

Nicholas Butler guided Raymond Donohoe’s Paddy Pepper, a gelding by Kannan out of Carton Free (Cruising), to fifth in 49.50, ahead of Alan O’Regan in sixth with Emma Horgan’s Seaview Demonstration (FSS Corelli Bravo x Castlelawn Galloway).

The remaining six places went to Max O’Reilly Hyland (BP Limitless), John McEntee (HHS Calgary), Darragh Ryan (DNF Firefly), Fiona O’Malley (DPS Dictator) and Seamus Hughes Kennedy (ESI Ali).

Seven-year-olds

Aconzina PS and Max O’Reilly Hyland came out on top in the seven-year-old class which saw 27 starters line-out for the 1.30m three-rounder.

By Action Breaker out of Conzina (Conthargos), the Gestut Lewitz-bred mare has a consistent record at 1.25m and 1.30m level having earned several top-five places recently.

She made short work of the third round clocking up a very fast time of 40.55, almost four seconds ahead of her closest rival.

Nicholas Butler took second place riding James Egan’s Origi V/H Dingenshof, a Dutch-bred gelding by Thunder Van Den Zuuthoeve out of a mare by Darco, in 44.26.

Francis Derwin Jnr and his own Florida Springs (Mermus R x Kings Master) slotted into third as the fastest four-faulter in 34.69, while Cora Sharkey riding AHG Whiterock De Muse Of Cruise (Cardento - Cruising) were fourth. Sharkey also took fifth place with her second mount, Lisboy Mermus (Mermus R x Cruising).

Joanne Blair completed the top-six with Andrew Bourns’ Swedish-bred DISA DM. The remaining three qualifying places went to David Moran (Bring Out The Barley), Timmy Brennan (GCS Ita) and Daren Hopkins (Quarzo Della Caccia).

Eight and nine-year-olds

The eight and nine-year-old class offered nine qualifying places and just 26 contenders lined out over the 1.40m track. Eight combinations managed a first round clear and it was decided between them that they would go no further with the class so they divided first place.

The horses who got their ticket to the RDS are; Helianthus (Aiden Killeen), Curra Paco (Ger O’Neill), Holy Blue (Nicholas D Connors), City (Brendan Murphy), Rossa Lough Derg (Francis Connors), Ladycastle Paco (Nicholas Butler), HHS Vancouver (John McEntee), Coolmeen Fair Exchange (Sarah Connell) and Barcelona (Abbie Sweetnam).

Four-year-olds

The final four-year-old qualifier saw some 58 starters line out to be assessed by judges Jenny Rankin and Robert Daly.

Mikey Pender’s home-bred gelding Madgeslane Louis (Luidam x OBOS Quality 004), ridden by Keith Moloney, scored the winning mark of 68 to secure the victory.

Daren Hopkins guided Ballywaters Farm’s Baby Guinness (Guinness x OBOS Quality 004), bred by TJ Foley, to second place with a score of 58.5.

Aoife Dooley and Maurice Cousins’ Grangemill Dreams (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Iroko), bred by Liam Duffin, took the third spot with 58.5, while the Etter Sportpferde Ag-bred MBF Celtic Claddagh (Celtic Hero BZ x Radolin), ridden by Meabh Bolger, scored 56.5 for fourth.

John Kearney’s gelding Max The Outlaw (Ard Vdl Douglas x Lux Z) and David Moran had a score of 52.5 which put them into fifth place. Linda Moloney and Micheal Ormond’s gelding Kylemore Big Hero (Diamant De Semilly - Cardento) also finished on 52.5 for sixth.

The final two qualifying places went to Nicole McElroy’s Caraselle Cruising (Shane Goggins) and Raven Rock (Andrew Lyons).