JUST 10 of the 42 starters managed to produce a clear round in Saturday’s €3,000 1.40m Speed class at last weekend’s Cavan Winter Horse Festival. Langara Ventures’ eight-year-old Galwaybay Sparkie was partnered to the top-spot by Vincent Byrne in a time of 62.01. By Spartacus out of Galwaybay Penelope (Clinton), he was bred in Co Galway by Justin Burke.

Harrison Blair and Rockmount Farms’ L’Esprit Hero Z (Lexicon x For Pleasure), bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry, took the runner-up spot in 62.29. Byrne also claimed third place aboard his other mount, Dale Adams’ eight-year-old Dawsons Trend (Future Trend x Lux Z). Bred by Patrick Hester Jnr, they recorded a time of 62.39.

Jane Gibbons’ Belgian-bred Cassius Z (Canabis Z x Up to Date M) slotted into fourth in 62.62, with junior rider Stephen Gibbons in the saddle. Patrick Hickey and Ronnoco Jump’s Florie de La Pierre (Vigo Cece x Flipper D’Elle) finished fifth in 64.31, while Annabel Shields and her own seven-year-old B.E Flygold (Stakkato Gold - Ballypatrick Flight), bred by Ballypatrick Stables, took sixth place.

Puissance

A huge crowd provided a superb atmosphere for Saturday night’s Puissance class in Cavan. Sponsored by Cladem Equi Store, it attracted seven starters. The big wall started at 1.65m and went to five rounds and a final height of 2.10m.

Two combinations - Jason Foley with Chedington Equestrian’s Dantino B (D’Olympic x Quintender) and Andrew Hodgins with his own mare Sandra (Lux Z x Sandro Boy) - cleared the wall at 2.10m to divide first place.

Sven Hadley with Paul Carberry’s Brandonview First Edition (Douglas Cavalier x Balda Beau) and Paddy O’Donnell with James Nash’s home-bred Quality Command (O.B.O.S. Quality 004 x Errigal Flight) both made it into the fifth round, but both had it down to divide third place.

Andrew Hodgins with John Glynn’s Shanaclough Luichew (Luidam x Coolcornan Wood), bred by Jill Twomey, made it to round four. Both Oisin Magee (Landslide AW) and Gracie Johnson (Oliver VD Hemelseschoot) made it into the second round and shared fifth place.