SECOND Lieutenant Ruari Clarke won his first 1.40m Grand Prix in Cavan last Sunday. Riding the Minister for Defence’s nine-year-old gelding Bonmahon Beach, Clarke proved best in the 13-way jump-off to claim the victory.

By Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of Bonmahon Tanya (by Temple Clover), he was bred by Richard Fitzgerald and has been with the Army Equitation School since 2022.

Speaking after his win, Clarke told The Irish Field: “That was my first ever 1.40m senior win, I’m delighted.

“I took over the reins of Bonmahon Beach in April 2023. It took me a bit of time to get used to his way of going, but recently it seems to have really clicked and he is going very well. He’s the type of horse that you must keep everything fresh for him. He just stepped up to 1.40m during the summer. He needs to feel confident, that’s a big thing for him.

“He rides beautifully, but can be a small bit lazy, but once I got him willing and happy in his mind, he went from strength to strength.”

Loving it

Speaking about his route to the Army, Clarke added: “I joined the Army in the Curragh in October 2020 and came up to the Equitation School at the end of 2022. I did my groom’s course initially and then did my first show in the Spring of 2023. I’m from Co Down. I was lucky that I always had a nice pony to jump growing up, I did the Dublin Horse Show in 128cm, 138cm and 148cm.

“I had a very nice 148cm pony named Knockroe Little Mike and we travelled to a couple of Nations Cup shows in Fontainebleau, Hagen and Belgium.

“I’m loving living here in Dublin. It’s a small bit different, I’m from a farm at home and we wouldn’t be close to shops or anything, so it’s great to be able to do this job; ride these fantastic horses and still be so close to the city, it’s amazing.

“As well as Bonmahon Beach, I have the nine-year-old mare Carrigsoir, a talented six-year-old Castle Desmond and, most recently, a very nice seven-year-old Lisgrea.

“I’m so fortunate to have such a lovely string. Cavan November show will be our last show of the season, we might do one or two small shows with the youngsters. I love it down here and am learning a lot.”

Big startlist

A starting field of 56 combinations lined out for Sunday’s 1.40m feature which was sponsored by Bucas to the tune of €2,000.

Just 13 riders managed to answer all the course builder’s questions correctly in round one to progress to the timed decider. Junior rider Stephen Gibbons was pathfinder aboard his mother Jane’s Belgian-bred gelding Cassius Z (Canabis Z x Up to Date M). A single fence down in a time of 40.24 kept them out of the placings.

Second in, John McEntee and Cavan Equestrian’s own mare Makuna (Casall x Concerto II) had two fences on the ground for eight faults. Catherine Thornton and David Campbell’s Derryinver Truffle (Tornesch x Cruising), bred by Tom and Linda Magee, delivered the first double clear in 42.42 for fourth place.

Junior rider Ruby Lily Gaines with Jacqueline Gaines’ Castle Lux Clover (Boherdeal Clover x Lux Z), bred by Jennifer Devlin, also had two down.

Second Lieutenant Clarke was fifth in. He guided Bonmahon Beach to a superb second clear round, stopping the clock at 40.02 to set the target for the remaining eight contenders. Paddy Reape and the Ronnie Hollinger-bred Creevagh Special (Camiro De Haar Z x Harlequin Du Carel) were unlucky to have one down in a good time of 38.91.

Double clear

Edward Doyle Jnr and Joanne Fox’s Pembrook King Of Kings (Diamant De Semilly x Lux Z), bred by Kilmashogue Stud, provided another double clear round - theirs coming in 40.71 for third place. Cavan resident rider Camryn Clarke rode his mother Victoria’s Conto De Reve (Hermes de Reve x Conto), bred by Noleen Kieran, into sixth place, with one fence down in a fast time of 37.00

Olive Clarke and Yvonne Meaney’s eight-year-old home-bred gelding Norway Grace (Aganix Du Seigneur x Lux Z) left all the poles in place in a cautious 51.62 for fifth place.

Harrison Blair and Rockmount Farms’ L’Esprit Hero Z (Lexicon x For Pleasure), bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry, came closest to catching the leader when they broke the finish beams in 40.07 to claim the runner-up spot.

Junior rider Ben Walsh riding Ronan McLaughlin’s eight-year-old Imcarthina (Mylord Carthago x Quintero) had two down, while Joshua Halford’s mare Herle (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Merle Roodnoot) had one down.

Last to go Patrick Hickey and the eight-year-old Down Under Z (Don’t Touch Tiji Hero x Cassini I) also had one on the ground in a good time of 38.38.