Boomerang 6/7yo Final

JUST a few weeks after being crowned National Champion, Kildare’s Mikey Pender was back in the ribbons as he claimed the Boomerang six- and seven-year-old final at Millstreet Horse Show.

Riding HHS Calgary, he delivered the winning clear in 32.69 seconds. Owned and bred by Marion Hughes, the seven-year-old is by Luidam out of the Don Juan De La Bouverie-sired La Juanita.

The first round proved very testing, commencing with a wide oxer, to a vertical. Fence three was a water tray over an oxer, then left-handed to a tall vertical. Fence seven was a yellow wall on to a double (oxer-vertical). Fence 10 ABC asked a few questions, a double of verticals to a big oxer out, and then to a vertical and finally right handed to the final oxer.

Following two qualifiers, 30 combinations booked their place in the final on Sunday and of those, 11 booked their place against the clock. It was a very competitive second round with the top five coming home just fractions of a second behind each other.

Francis Derwin opted for the longer routes with Parvati AEG and it paid off as he delivered a clear in 34.09 to take the runner-up spot. This seven-year-old Belgian-bred mare is by Arezzo VDL out of the Darco-sired Sabrienne.

Mikey Pender almost took the runner-up spot with HHS Rose, but crossed the line a fraction of a second slower than Derwin in 34.10 for third place. Bred by Miguel Bravo, the six-year-old mare is by Lamm De Fetan out of the Don Juan De La Bouverie-sired HHS Forty. This combination recently won the six-year-old class on home soil at the HHS Charity Show. Previous to this, they won the six-year-old championship at National Balmoral.

Jason Foley added to his tally as he partnered Far West de Hus to a clear in 34.45 for eventual fourth. Owned by Castlefield Farm and bred by S.A.R.L Haras De Hus, the seven-year-old Belgian-bred is by Cornet Obolensky out of the Lefevre-sired Blankonette III. This gelding in 2021 competed with Ger O’Neill in Lanaken and earlier in 2022, was campaigned by Foley at Vejer de la Frontera CSIH1*.

Foot to the floor

Young rider Seamus Hughes Kennedy also had his foot to the floor with ESI Rocky and crossed the line in 34.91 for fifth. Owned by Clare Hughes and bred by Ennisnag Stud, the seven-year-old ISH gelding is by Stakkato gold out of Ckibaskea. This combination spent the start of the year competing in the CSIH1* at Vejer de la Frontera. They finished their tour there with a runner-up place in the 1.40m class.

Fellow Kilkenny rider Susan Fitzpatrick kept all the poles in place with Keatingstown Mister Cool in a time of 35.76 to complete the top six line-up. Owned by Fitzpatrick and bred by Gestuet Lewitz, the six-year-old is by Messenger out of Chaccata’s Girl.