CAVAN’S Jamie Clarke (15) enjoyed a superb weekend in Millstreet, when he won two international classes aboard his grandmother Pauline Clarke’s gelding Coumroe Special.

By Tjipke, the 11-year-old was bred by William McDonnell. The pair began their run of good form when taking fifth place in Friday’s 1.30m.

They then went on to take the top-spot in the 1.25m on Saturday and capped it off with another victory, this time in Sunday’s 1.35m.

Following the wins, Clarke told The Irish Field about his horse. “I’ve been riding him since the start of last year and was hoping to be selected for some Children on Horses teams,” he said.

“We managed to get picked for the team in Fontainebleau and Hagen and he did very well at both shows.

“From there we were selected for the European Championship team in Oliva, Italy, where the team finished ninth. Since then we have been gradually moving him up to 1.35m, and he has been very good all year. We won a 1.35m at Sentower Park in Belgium at the start of the year.

“The goal with him now would be to move up to 1.40m and hopefully be considered for the Junior team next year, or the year after.

“I turned 15 on the first of August, so I still have a year left in the ponies and he is my only horse.”

Speaking of the class, Clarke added: “It was a fast jump-off on Sunday. I was lucky enough to be late to go, so I got to watch a couple and I knew that there were a few distances where I could leave a stride out.

“I knew I could trust my horse. He is very careful. The more you dare him the higher he gets. I turned back very tight to the double and he jumped through it unbelievable. I also left a stride out to the last.

“I’ve bonded well with him this year. We’ve done a few more shows together now and I think I’ve really got the hang of him. I thought Millstreet ran a great show and I really enjoyed it.”

Big class

Some 77 combinations lined-out for the final international class of the two-star show. Of these, 14 produced a first round clear over the Gueorgui Gueorguiev and Tommy Gibbons-designed track to progress to the timed decider.

Clarke proved fastest with a double clear in a time of 33.96 for the win. The Minister For Defence’s MHS Gabhran (Cardento x Diamant De Semilly) was partnered into second place by Lt. Michaeli Byrne in 35.56.

Third went to Shane Goggins aboard Jack Goaley’s Boleybawn Caymen (Cassidee x Ard VDL Douglas), bred by Ronan Rothwell, in 35.62. Quality Stud’s home-bred Mona Lisa Quality (Nabab de Reve x Clardence C) was ridden into fourth by Aoife McCabe in 36.03, while fifth went to the Judy Murphy-bred Javas Gucci (Luidam x Cruising) for owner Catherine and rider Isabel O’Brien.

Sandra Duffy’s Satelittenflieger K (Stolzenberg x Escudo) was ridden by Denmark’s Maria Schou into sixth, while Tomas Fahy and Agrimhill Farm’s Dutch-bred Jaboeska took seventh as the only other double clear round.

Clarke’s other win came in the 1.25m class on Saturday when he and Coumroe Special posted a double clear round in a time of 35.51, just ahead of Paul Beecher and Seryna Van Keulen’s Dutch-bred gelding Danqu in 35.61.

Nicole Kershaw rode Lisa Rosbotham’s Novellent (Valent x Zeoiet), bred by Linzi Johnston, into third in 35.79, while Shane Goggins and his own mare Jinarite (Douglas x Arezzo VDL) took fourth.

Conrad Sweeney and Easy 103 (Embassy x Graf Top), bred by Theo and Dirk Soetebeer for owner Paddy Sweeney finished in fifth, and Daisy McNamara and her mother Martha’s Belgian-bred Caspatito Z took sixth place.