AMATEUR riders travelled to Maryville the last weekend of August to contest the SJI-sponsored National Amateur Championships, which not only saw national titles up for grabs, but also a prize pot of €8,500 over the two days.

The national amateur committee put together a great array of prizes for the overall champions, including a much-admired customised director’s chair, along with a gift card for €750.

With points being allocated over three competitions, Lorraine Younge was delighted to secure the AA National title with Little Miss Russel. Competing for the first time at the championships, Aoife Fitzpatrick’s consistent results over the weekend gave her the A Amateur Championship, and she gave huge credit to her partner, My Buddy.

“I am thrilled with the win,” said Aoife. “He is a real trier and we do a variety of classes together - I’m so lucky to have him.”

Blessed with a sunny Saturday morning, the Welcome Stakes took centre stage. Clare rider Vicky Collins took the win in this class with her seasoned veteran Interpreter, when they kept all the poles in place in a time of 35.88. This 19-year-old son of Cruising shows no sign of slowing down - throwing in a playful buck while going against the clock. Louise Keane was second in this Sports Member section with Belles Bonne Chance, when clear in 37.03.

The Amateur Power and Speed was a hotly contested class. Kilkenny rider Aoife Fitzpatrick has produced her horse My Buddy since he was a four-year-old. Their teamwork paid off, as they delivered a super speedy double clear in a time of 31.02 to take the win in the A section.

Derby

No stranger to winning at the top level of Amateurs is Lorraine Younge, who started the weekend well by winning the AA section with Little Miss Russel, when clear in 29.82.

Course designers Alan Molan and Declan Cunningham set out a beautiful Sports Members’ Derby course over 15 fences. It was an exciting competition with less than half a second separating the top three against the clock in the Sports Member’s class. The Keane sisters were on form, with Louise narrowly beating her sister Sarah, followed closely by Pauline Burke and Danagher, who had to contend with third place, when clear in 41.38. Louise, who was riding Belles Bonne Chance, delivered a clear in 40.83, while Sarah partnered her six-year-old, Niblerinio to a clear in 41.05.

Waterford rider Gary Flynn took the win in the Amateur Derby with his gelding Bahrain Prince, when they were fastest of six double clears in 36.84. Lorraine Younge demonstrated her consistency, as she took second with Little Miss Russel, clear in 38.43. Lorna Conroy secured third place with her mare Clontarf Annabelle when clear in 39.14.

National Sports Member Champion Vicky Collins and Interpreter pictured with Munster Amateur representative Gary Flynn \ Tadhg Ryan/Bit-Media

Jessie O'Flynn Hall and MMS Loreal, winners of the Amateurs one round speed at the National Amateur and Sportsmember Championships Maryville Stables \ Tadhg Ryan/Bit-Media

Collins on fire

Day two of the championships started with a hotly contested Welcome Stakes, where again it was Vicky Collins who took the win with Interpreter when clear in 28.58, thus securing the overall National Sports Member title for the second year in-a-row.

Aoife Fitzpatrick took her second winner’s rug of the weekend when claiming top spot in the Amateur A section with My Buddy, clear in 28.72. The one-round speed class was hotly contested with 13 riders going clear and fast. Jessie O’Flynn Hall threw caution to the wind with a daring run to the last fence aboard MMS Loreal and clocked the winning time of 60.02 in the A section. Caroline Ryan and her Lancelot-sired gelding Killersk Conor took the honours in the AA section when clear in 61.31.

The final class of the weekend was the Grand Prix. Part of the National Amateur Orchard Equestrian/NAPS League, Kerrie Anderson has been vying for top spot in this League all summer. Her long journey from Dublin was worthwhile, when she steered Bernadette Lady K to the win over a twisting track, when clear in 30.45.

Second spot was filled by Josephine Townend and JT Calover Junior, clear in 30.59, while in third was Gary Flynn and Argento Cruise, clear in 31.40.