Emer Bermingham
CAVAN Equestrian Centre was a hive of activity last weekend as it hosted the popular Home Pony International Show.
Opening the championships was the children on horses 1.10m Grand Prix where Charlotte Harding set the bar high with a clear in 34.45 with Crossmaglen Bandit for fifth place. Tension mounted as Daniel Fitzgerald, riding Gucci Lady, galloped home with nothing to add in 26.16 to take the lead.
Next in Amy Roberts clocked the winning time of 24.95 aboard Hickory Hill, leaving Fitzgerald in second. Going early in the class, Ellie Humphries came home clear in 26.52 for third. Jennifer Kuehnle’s clear with Tullibards Now or Never in 29.63 ensured her fourth. Fastest of the four faulters in 41.59 and taking sixth was Ava Banahan and Vis Del Vergante.
First to go in the Equest Pramox-sponsored 1.20m children on horses Grand Prix, Jennifer Kuehnle partnered the five-year Tullibards Now and Never to a win when clear in 34.04. Amy Roberts put in a very fast time with Hickory Hill when clocking 28.65, but it came at a price as she faulted at fence 10 which proved good enough for second.
First of the pony Grands Prix was the 128cms 85cms under 10s Coolmore-sponsored Grand Prix where Camryn Clarke and Parc Creme Brulee lodged the first clear in 57.69 and a further 10 booked their place in the jump-off.
Cameron Clarke’s clever riding with Parc Creme Brulee saw him set the pace in the jump-off when clear in 34.65, which later proved good enough for fourth. A blistering round with Emerald Lucky in 33.24 saw Oliver Doherty take the lead and then eventual third. Annie Gibson’s clear with Nearly Done That in 37.08 meant a fifth place finish.
Kilkenny rider Robin Carey wasted no time with Cappagh Knight and a series of tight turns saw him lower the target to 28.87. Tadhg Clarke and Lenamore Mini Metro took a similar path to the leaders, however despite a clear round, their time of 30.86 failed to demote Doherty and they settled for second place. In joint sixth place when clear in 37.52 was Stephen Hughes (Greenacres News Reel) and Eoin Brennan (Absolutely Beautiful).
Competitors in the Coolmore 128cms 1.05m Grand Prix faced a technical course which saw 12 combinations proceeded to the Stuart Clarke jump-off track. First to go, Tom Watchman and Murphy Spartacus rode a very tight turn from one to two, and later back to the double setting the time to beat of 32.80. Next in, Ashley Dunne and Wingland Heloise negotiated a series of tight turns to set the winning time of 31.55, leaving Watchman in second.
Francis Derwin put in a great attempt with Buachaill Baire but a clear in 32.99 saw them slot into eventual third. John McEntee’s decision to take the longer route back to seven with Star Spangled Banner cost him seconds, but a clear in 34.49 proved good enough for fourth. Fifth place belonged to Victoria Thompson and Sparkling Mr Tigger clear in 37.15, ahead of Ellie Rose Cassidy and Little Caesar who faulted at fence seven in 33.91.
Harry Allen demonstrated his talent as he returned for the second year to take the honours in the Coolmore-sponsored 1.15m 138cms Grand Prix. Securing three places in the seven-way jump-off, Allen maximised his chances of a win. First to go with Lough Gill, he left nothing to chance and a series of very tight turns saw him gallop home in 33.05 seconds.
Jodie Flanagan’s decision to take the more cautious route with Caher Silver paid off as she lodged a clear in 40.42 for third. Katie Derwin proved out of luck when faulting at fence seven with Sligo Lux to Queenie, but their time of 38.07 meant a fifth place finish for the Athlone rider. Trudie McCoosh and Lilly Clover suffered a similar fate, but a slower time of 43.93 saw her finish behind Derwin. Ruari Clarke maintained a clean sheet second time round with Mulvin Rollover in 41.36 for fourth place. With the class in hand, Harry Allen returned with Fountain Ranger and keeping the use of the arena to a minimum, clocked 34.41 for second.
The last Grand Prix of the day, the 148cms 1.25m proved very competitive. Of the 11 clears in the first round, two were under the command of Harry Allen, Katie Soden, Jennifer Kuehnle and Sean Monaghan.
First to take on the raised jump-off course was Sean Monaghan and Adja, clear in 38.28. Jennifer Kuehnle opted for a safe clear with River Casanova and it paid off as she crossed the line in 47.05 for third place. Kayleigh Soden’s unlucky four faults at the first part of the double with Castlehill King saw her take fourth place in 39.59.
Soden returned with her second mount Boolagh Gypsy Boy but four faults at fence 14 in 40.64 proved good enough for fifth place. Sean Monaghan and Dunally Black Jack ruled themselves out of contention when faulted at the first, but a fast round of 42.48 saw them slot into sixth. Second last to go, Tyrone Flanagan and Cullagh Lass crossed the line with nothing to add in 37.71 to take the win and in the process demoted Monaghan to second.
Championships
Following some stiff competition in the 128-90cms, the championship was claimed by Joshua Halford and Copper Beech Peach, clear in 25.17. Freya Sayle put in a gallant attempt with Fenaghbeg Ever but a clear in 25.82 proved good enough for second.
Conor Gilmartin’s careful approach with Tabita Carwyn paid off as a clear in 28.16 saw him take third. Fourth place belonged to Jack Conlon-Gateau and Ballyvally Liberte, clear in 31.90. Fastest of the four-faulters and accounting for fifth was Conor Lavin and Mini Cooper in 25.50, ahead of Teaghán Burns and Back To Black in 30.58.
The 138cms 90cm championships was won by Morgan Cummins and North Star when clear in 20.34 seconds. Cummins was chased home by Caoimhe Higgins and Ice Fire who crossed the in 21.06. Ellen Kenny and Double Dash Dot was fractions behind in 21.41 for third, ahead of Ella Grant and Beautiful Mystery in 24 seconds. Fifth place was occupied by Niamh McEvoy and Edentrillick Jazz in 26.45 while Oliver Penfold and My Clonmore Braces competed the top six line-up in 25.82.
Victory in the 138cms 1m championship went to Daniel Fitzgerald and Ice Fire, clear in 21.29. Oliver Penfold was back in the ribbons taking second place with My Clonmore Braces in 24.32.
Leah Roulston was fractions behind with Lenamore Lena in 24.74 for third, ahead of Victoria Surgeoner and Lenamore Tasmanian Taz in 24.92. Little separated fifth and sixth as Katie Conlon and Brookhaven clocked 25.04, ahead of Lewis Trenier and My Diamond in 25.30.
In arena two, the 90cms championship was claimed by Raychal Mason Collins. Last to go, riding Glebepark Riverdance, she lodged the winning round of clear in 28.27 seconds. Christopher Dehaene’s clear with Miltown Magic in 29.98 saw him claim second. Bromwen Hanson set the target to beat with Laragh Storm when clear in 34.09, but their lead held only temporarily as Cerys Howell and Essenar Luizza reduced the target to 31.25 which later proved good enough for third leaving Hanson to take fourth. Timmy Keogh delivered that all important clear with Moonlight Magic in 34.20 for fifth, ahead of Cerys Howell and Wiviollet Something Special, in 34.45.
It was a good outing for Sarah Richardson as she took the 1m championship with Cailin Aerach, clear in 30.25 seconds. Not content with the win, she also took second place with Arklow Coloured Boy, clear in 30.69. Patrick McEvoy’s clear with Dooneens Be My Baby in 31.19 proved good enough for third. Fourth place was occupied by Jack McKeon and Ardara Lady, clear in 32.10, ahead of Angela Dolan and Cashelbay Meg, in 32.76. Sophie Truesdale and Beech Hallstar completed the top six line-up, clear in 33.21.
Victory in the 148cms 1m championship went to Daniel Fitzgerald and Erbies Corvette when they lodged the winning round of clear in 24.22. Louise Mahon and Outta Control were fractions behind in 25.76 for second. Cian Harrison partnered Where’s My Colour to a clear in 26 seconds for third place, ahead of Ellie Humphries and Princess Ita in 26.99 for fourth.
Angela Dolan’s careful approach with Cashelbay Meg paid off as their clear in 27.43 ensured them fifth place, ahead of Sean Monaghan and Springhill Rebellious in 30.65.