THE Waterford/Tipperary Branch of SJI ran their inaugural league finals for horses at The Ballyrafter Centre, Lismore, last Sunday. The show jumping can only be described as brilliant as each final produced fantastic competition and the winners – Jenny Costello, Fran Mangan and Michelle Griffin – had to be at the top of their game to claim the generous prize money on offer.

Qualifying points for the finals could be acquired at all shows in Waterford and Tipperary throughout the year and, from the outset, Fran Mangan set his goal for the year to win the Fennell’s Garage & Test Centre 90cms €1,000 Final. In showjumping it is not easy to achieve ambitions but Mangan and his lovely mare Parkmore Boher Belle had an extra special round to win on Sunday in 39.46. Somewhere he found places to slide through and in doing so, pipped his great rival Pat Ronayne and Coolbell Diamond who had an equally spectacular round in 41.25.