AT the RDS last Friday, the first event in the young rider division kicked off with the Young Riders 1.35/1.40m National Championship. Sponsored by Fair Share ESG, 16 combinations battled it out in a bid to take the title. The competition was intense, with eight riders successfully delivering clear rounds in the first stage, earning their spots in the jump-off.

Claiming the title was Eoin Brennan and Limestone Briarhill Lui, clear in 32.55 seconds. Last to go, Brennan knew what he needed to do. He set off at a blistering pace and got a very tight line from the vertical back to the double. This, matched with a very tight turn back to the oxer and then on to the home straight, saw him shave over a second off the target time.

Speaking after the win, Brennan said: “I am delighted with my mare today. Limestone Briarhill Lui has been very consistent all year, but I feel that it was my small errors that stopped her from winning more.

“She has won classes abroad with me and has won a National Grand Prix in Ireland this year. She was double clear and placed in Mullingar 2* Grand Prix in June and she deserved the win today, as she always tries so hard for me. We got her two years ago from Gemma Phelan, who produced her so well for Jim Roberts.”

Electric

The winner added: “My brother Timmy won Wednesday’s young rider Grand Prix in the Main Arena, so it was nice for GCS horses to win both young rider classes in Dublin. James Brennan and Emily Moloney have been beating us since we were all seven years old, as we were learning to ride in Warrington, Kilkenny. Today, this class was as competitive as those pony classes in Warrington. There’s nothing quite like winning at the RDS, as the crowd make the atmosphere so electric.”

Owned by Tim Brennan and bred by Anne Coyne, the 11-year-old mare is by Kings Cornet and is out of the Luidam-sired dam Briarhill Cruise.

First to go, Coen Williams and Conthanja PS proved out of luck when they faulted at the second part of the double, but a fast time of 35.00 saw them finish in fifth place.

Next up, 16-year-old Emily Moloney set the target, when she delivered the first double clear with Temple Alice in a time of 34.36.

All eyes were on next to go, Timmy Brennan, as he took to the course with Diadema Della Caccia. He set off at a determined pace and took the necessary tight line from the vertical to the double, but a risky turn back to the penultimate water tray cost him, as it fell to the ground. A fast time of 32.67 saw him take fourth place.

Lauren Murphy and BP Skybound proved out of luck when they faulted at the first and their time of 38.67 saw them finish in seventh place.

The lead changed hands, as James Brennan and MHS I’m The One took all the necessary turns and clocked 34.36, which would see him take the reserve title and, in the process, demote Moloney into third.

Cian McMunn and Oberon Van’T Lohof saw their hopes of a win fade when they faulted at the third last, and their time of 36.34 saw them take sixth. An unfortunate technical error saw Isobel O’Brien and Javas Gucci eliminated in the jump-off and, as a result, took eighth place.