DESPITE adverse weather conditions last weekend, amateur riders travelled to the TRI National Amateur Championship at Duffy’s Equestrian Centre, Co Galway, in a bid to take one of the coveted titles. After two days of competition, SJI Amateur chairwoman Aideen Kirby was crowned the ‘AA’ Champion, while Stephanie Forde was crowned the ‘A’ Champion.

Action kicked off on Saturday with the Tack Up Galway’s €900 Welcome Stakes with 47 combinations going to post. Claiming the first victory was local rider Aisling Tonery (AA) and Ti Amo Darcy, fastest of the 34 double clears in 28.26 seconds. Fellow AA rider Aaron Geoghan played it safe with Lundy Bay and came home in 31.84 for second. Slotting into third place was Paul Tarpey (AA) and She Lux Quality in 32.01, ahead of Colm Kelly (A) and Sparkling Diamond in 32.27. Fifth place belonged to Aoileann Nic An Iomaire (A) and Captain Mouzer, clear in 32.28, while in sixth was Alocin Murphy (A) and Mullen Diamond 22 in 32.40.

Winner of the Mini Grand Prix was Kevin O’Reilly (AA) who delivered a double clear with his own Furore S in a time of 37.95. Less than a second separated the next placing as Lorraine Younge (AA) and Belfieldflight crossed the line with nothing to add in 38.38. Slotting into third place was Tara Brandon (AA) when she partnered Gabriel Slattery Jnr’s Ice Cream VDT to a clear in 38.73. Younge returned to the line-up to take fourth with her own Little Miss Russel, clear in 40.22. Accounting for fifth place was Kirby (AA) and Derg Masterpiece, clear in 41.21, ahead of Nicola Burke (AA) and Baronscourt Dancing Boy, clear in 43.06.

The Martin Flesh Heating and Plumbing Derby saw 17 combinations go to post and from those, just one double clear was delivered. This double clear came courtesy of ‘A’ category rider Stephanie Forde and her own Merlins Vixen in a time of 41.03. Aideen Kirby was back in the line-up with Derg Masterpiece when she lodged a very fast four fault round in a time of 38.40.

Michael Ormond (AA) and Kylemore-Lady also had an unlucky four faults in 39.16 for third place. Kate Emily Logan (A) incurred one time fault in the first round with Captain Kelly (102.59) as did Eugene O’Doherty (A) and The Solar Flare (104.69) for fifth. Fastest of the four-faulters in the first round was Brendan Dolan (A) and Roscrib Harry in 86.01.

Win for Lowry

On Sunday, Jen Lowry (A) got her day off to a good start as she took the win in the Welcome Stakes with her own Yeats County when clear in 23.82. Karen Boylan (A) and Kane Flight were fractions behind delivering a clear in 23.99. Marita Byrne (AA) and Don Brook also kept the poles in place in 24.48 for third, while in fourth was Marie-Claire Rogers (A) and Eris m2s, in a time of 24.53. Accounting for fifth place was Vicky Collins and her own Interpreter, clear in 24.60. Collins was chased home by Naiomh O’Gorman (A) and Ankaras who stopped the clock with a clear in 24.90.

The Plusvital Power and Speed saw 42 combinations go to post and it was ‘A’ category rider Niall Hughes and CES Seamanchip who collected the win, clear in 32.49. The next three placings were filled by AA riders. Claiming the runner-up spot was Martha Naughton and Simbolise, clear in 33.44. Tara Brandon was back in the ribbons, coming third with Gabriel Slattery Jnr’s Ice Cream VDT, clear in 34.58. Fourth place belonged to Karen Broderick and Earl Greys Last Cruise, clear in 34.95, while in fifth was Joanna Hyland (A) and Queen Lu, clear in 35.08. Forde (A) and Merlins Vixen followed closely behind in 35.59 for sixth place.

Kirby triumphs

The Honeycomb Solutions Grand Prix saw a win for Aideen Kirby when she partnered Derg Masterpiece to a blistering clear in 38.17. Chloe Goggins (A) came closest to catching Kirby with Kingsborough Jasper when delivering a clear in 46.96. Niall Hughes (A) added to his weekend tally, slotting into third with CES Seamanchip when fastest of the four faulters in 35.42.

Karen Boylan (A) and Pinegrove Aro also suffered four faults, albeit in a slower time of 36.39 for fourth place. Tara Brandon (AA) was also back in the ribbons as she slotted into fifth with Gabriel Slattery Jnr’s Ice Cream VDT on four faults in 36.55, while in sixth was Jen Lowry and Yeats County, carrying four faults in 39.79.