THE 2024 National show jumping champion Patrick Hickey found the perfect end to a successful year, when he captured the win in Friday’s WKD 1.40m jump-off at the Cavan Winter Horse Festival.

Riding his championship mount Casago II, an 11-year-old stallion by Casall out of Hodrina (by Carthago), owned by his brother William, Hickey proved best of the 63 starters in the €3,000 class.

Twenty combinations produced a first-round clear to progress to the timed decider. Of these, just six managed to leave all the poles in place a second time to deliver a double clear round, while 11 had a single fence down for four faults.

Hickey had the advantage of being eighth to go in the jump-off, and, having already completed the track aboard his other two mounts - Ronnoco Jump’s seven-year-old gelding Replay V/D Rollenbeek (Diamant De Semilly x Toulon) and the eight-year-old Gospel Tame (Quadrio Tame x Panama Tame) - he knew exactly what to expect aboard the experienced Casago II.

The duo were foot-perfect, crossing the finish line in a time of 33.95. They then had a tense wait, as the last six riders tried to better their time and leave all the fences up.

Max Foley came closest. He guided Freestone Farm’s seven-year-old Sumas Knockout (Tyson x VDL Arkansas), bred by Suma Stud, over the line clear in 34.12 to claim the runner-up spot.

Third went to Aimee Barry riding her father Joe’s Garryndruig Limoncello (Amaretto Darco x Cruising), bred by Geri McGeoghan-Santry. They broke the beams in 34.68. Hickey finished fourth with Replay V/D Rollenbeek in 36.65, while Robyn Moran and Vera Griffin’s Cushlas Fryday (Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve x Apache D’Adriers) were fifth. Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lights Out (Kroongraaf x Diamond Serpent) completed the line-up in sixth.

Hadley victory

The 1.30m Welcome Stakes Speed, sponsored by Francis Derwin Bloodstock, on Friday morning was won by Sven Hadley, aboard his own seven-year-old gelding Make It Easy HSH.

By Don’t Touch It M, out of C- Larissa (by Landos), the gelding crossed the finish line in a time of 50.63 to secure the victory.

Hadley’s partner, Britain’s Annabel Shields and Hibernia Horses Ltd’s Belgian-bred Carte D’Or Sdw Z (Comme IL Faut x Presley Boy) were runners-up in 50.98. Hadley slotted into third place with his other mount, HSH Harper Du Seigneur (Aganix Du Seigneur x Chippison), in 51.08.

Fourth went to Tatianna Ormiston riding Gene Ormiston’s Killorane Lucky Charm (Kerry Stone x Huntingfield Rebel) in 51.37.

Junior rider Emily Moloney and Ian Smyth’s home-bred Cruising On The Ridge (Kannan x Ard VDL Douglas) were fifth, while Paddy O’Donnell and the James Nash-owned and bred Quality Command (O.B.O.S. Quality 004 x Errigal Flight) finished in sixth.