SIXTEEN-year-old Stephen Gibbons from Claremorris, Co Mayo, had a day to remember at the first round of the Connaught Horse League in Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre last Saturday.

First up he took top spot in the 1.15m Connaught Development League with the seven-year-old Cobra gelding Ballynagran Captains Mate, taking the win in 27.81 seconds from another young rider, Nadine Carey with Sacre Bleu (31.44), with Matt Gordon taking third place with Guido.

Later in the day, Gibbons went on to take the main event, the 1.35m Connaught Grand Prix riding his mother Jane’s twelve-year-old gelding Cassius Z.

Seven of the 24 starters made it through to the jump-off where first to go, Shane Goggins and Joack Goaley’s Boleybawn Cayman set the early pace when clear in 30.68 seconds.

Lee Carey soon took over the lead with Niall Carey’s Luxity in 29.01, before, next in, Gibbons gave it everything and posted the winning time of 28.02.

There was a nervous wait as, last to go, Jake Hunter put his foot down with the 1.60m jumper Chappo Chey but in the end he had to settle for second in 28.60.

In the Duffy Sporthorses 1.25m ‘Step Up’ League, the win went to junior Katie Nallon riding the sponsors Sandra and Vinnie Duffy’s Ecklands Helado, over fellow junior and Children on Horses rider Cian McMunn with Captain Marko in second and Morgan Carty in third with King of Troy.

In the final class of the day, the Beyond Beauty Skincare and Lazer Clinic Amateur League, AA rider Louise Craig and Cherry Wine were last to go and scored the win, defeating the long-time leader Diarmaid Lang riding Globetrotter with Joanna Hyland and Queen Lu in third position.

The next leg of the Connacht League takes place at Galway Equestrian Centre tomorrow (Sunday).