ROBYN Moran won Saturday’s 1.35m Grand Prix at Cavan Equestrian Centre aboard James McMahon’s consistent gelding Coolminga Inspector Royal.
A huge number of 108 started the class, with 55 of those producing a first round clear. From 25 double clear rounds, the 11-year-old by Tinaranas Inspector was the fastest, breaking the beam in 35.52 seconds. The combination were runners-up in the Spring Tour earlier this year after winning three rounds of the series.
Sean Monaghan took the runner-up place with Linda Courtney’s Lisbane Aladdin (Casall x Gelvin Clover) when clear in 35.82 seconds, while Nicole Kershaw guided Lisa Rosbotham’s nine-year-old mare Miss Valent (Valent x John Henry) to third place in a time of 36.26.
Tara Glynn finished fourth with her own Inschalla CZ (36.44), ahead of Cavan’s Victoria Clarke in fifth with Chinatown (36.54) and Emma McEntee in sixth with MHS New York (36.85), who went on to finish second in Sunday’s 1.40m.
1.30m win for McCrum
The 1.30m championship on Sunday was won by Brogen McCrum riding her own aptly named 11-year-old mare Tailormade for Me (OBOS Quality x Cavalier Royale). The pair posted a second round time of 48.11 to secure the win.
Second place went to Children on Horses rider Emily Moloney and GVS Goodwins Queen, double clear in 48.20, while third was Michael Whyte and Pauric Gonan’s Dutch-bred gelding Hero in 51.10.
Barry Griffin and his own seven-year-old Diamond Roller x Metropole mare, Diamond In The Rough, proved best in a competitive 1.20m championship which saw 67 combinations go to post. Griffin posted a second round clear in a very fast time of 26.60 to secure victory.
Tom Keville, riding the eight-year-old Lux Z x Clover Hill gelding, Kilnamac Enda was second in 29.47. Holly Anne Sweetnam and Verdi Valintina (Verdi x White Clover) took third in 29.57, while Ronya Benson and Be Good were fourth.
The 1.10m championship boasted the largest starting field of the day with 82 starters. Ronya Benson and Be Good took the win when they posted a time of 29.18, just ahead of second-placed Saoirse Moore and the seven-year-old SMC April Dawn in 29.90. Third went to Alice Moloney and Cosima in 31.13.