THE first of the Young Riders to contest their championship was the 1.35/1.40m category on Aga Khan day with 14 going to post.

Second to go, Lee Carey delivered the first clear with Luxity and a further seven joined him in the jump-off. The turn back from fence two to three in the jump-off would be a major factor in taking the class.

Moving up the draw, Rhys Williams set the bar high with Conthanja as he recorded a clear round in the jump-off. The Clare rider set off at a blistering pace and got a good line from fence one to three and a perfect turn to the double. A good pace to the vertical which was the original fence one and a daring gallop to the last saw him set the target, clear in 34.03.

Next to go with Luxity, the pressure was on Lee Carey but he wasn’t fazed by the challenge. He set off strong and he took the inside line to fence three before taking an extremely tight line back to the double. A great shot to the penultimate fence saw him clock the winning time of 33.94 and as a result, Williams slotted into second place.

Carey said: “I am delighted with the win, as it’s not easy going early in the draw. Rhys had set the bar high and I had no choice but to go for it. The horse is super consistent and has had a great year so I knew that I ask a bit more of him.”

Pataire Crawford opted to take the longer route to fence three with Jippie, but it paid off as she delivered a clear in 40.17 for third place. Cora Sharkey and Lisboy Mermus were fastest of the four-faulters in 41.68 for eventual fourth. Emily Moloney proved out of luck when she tried to take the inside line to the double with Temple Alice and she faulted at this point.

A fast time of 42.42 meant that she had to settle for fifth place. Trudie Hermione McCoosh proved out of luck when she had two down with TMSH Lady Majella in 36.65 for sixth place.

Win for McEntee

On Saturday evening, young riders in the 1.25/1.30m put their best foot forward in a bid to take the title in front of the packed stands in Simmonscourt. From a startlist of 19, nine booked their place against the clock. In the jump-off time could be made up from the HSI oxer and back to the double at nine, a vertical oxer. For those with a win in mind, they needed to negotiate a tight line from the orange vertical to the oxer.

First to go, Jodie Creghton set the bar high with Gortacar Suspicious Minds 005, clocking 34.52 which would see her fill third place.

Wexford’s Taylor Peare looked up for the challenge as she took it on with Lissyegan Geoffrey, but a daring turn saw her fault at fence eight and their time of 32.73, meant a sixth place finish.

Katie McEntee took almost four seconds off the target when she partnered Hip Girl to a clear in 30.91 to take the win. McEntee got a great line back to the double and was extremely tight to the oxer at fence eight. This combination had claimed sixth place in the qualifier on Friday. Owned by Stephex Stables, the 13-year-old mare is by Hip Hope out of the Carthago-sired Mysterious Girl 2.

Victoria Thompson played it safe with Armani Velvet and it paid off as she delivered a clear in 42.74 which saw her take fourth place.

Ella Clancy had her foot to the floor with Corraghoe Steel and she was up on target, but four faults at the last in a time of 30.95 would mean a fifth place finish in the line-up.

Ciara Fives was last to go with Future Storm and she opted to take a more cautious approach and it paid off as she delivered a clear in 33.45, which would later see her slot into second place.

Victory for Moran

On Sunday, the 1.10m/1.15m young riders contested their championship with 20 combinations battling it out. Of the original starters, just five delivered clears to book their place against the clock. First to go aboard Admiran Athena, Sarah Fitzgerald’s tight line to the oxer at three cost her as she hit the first part of the double, but a strong pace for the rest of the track saw her come home carrying four faults in a time of 38.13 for eventual third.

Next up, Lily O’Dea took it on with CSF Alma, like Fitzgerald she too faulted at the double after taking a tight line to the oxer at three. A slower time of 41.25 however meant she had to settle for eventual fourth.

Alexandra Hourigan proved out of luck when she came home carrying 12 faults with Cuffesgrange Caballus in 41.25 for fifth place.

Jodie Creighton meant business from the start as she set off in a calculated pace with Glenaguile View. She opted to take the inside line back to the oxer at three and got a good shot at the double. She then negotiated the inside line to fence 14 and came home clear in 39.94 to take the lead.

Last to go, Robyn Moran knew what she needed to do as she took it on with the seven-year-old stallion Fortside Trend. She took the inside line to fence three and was up on pace at that point. There were anxious moments as they rattled fence 14, but with the poles staying in place, she clocked the winning time of 38.68, and demoted Creighton into the runner-up place.

Fortside Trend was bred by Robyn’s father Brian and he is by Future Trend out of Landina-sired Lisa. He is no stranger to the RDS having competed there under Robyn’s command as a six-year-old and as a four-year-old. He has been produced by Robyn and has clocked up a series of results on the national circuit.