THE final of the Area 5 Jumps Ahead League, hosted by the Muskerry Branch, took place last Sunday at Ballindenisk, where riders competed for prizes sponsored by O’Brien’s Saddlery.

Outgoing champion, West Carbery’s Anna Connolly, enjoyed a special lap of honour in the famed Ballindenisk arena before the Dr Anne Crowley perpetual cup was presented to this year’s winner, Olivia Roche. The latter, a member of the Duhallow Branch, comfortably topped the leaderboard in the 70cm league with Clonmoyle Tiger (48 points), ahead of Carbery’s Ella Forristal on Clonakilty Bandit (37) and United’s Éanna O’Brien with Elegant Appraisal (31).

That trio filled the first three placings in Sunday’s final round but, on this occasion, Forristal came out on top when stopping the clock in the timed round in 30.03 seconds. Also recording double clears, Roche did so in 31.53, with O’Brien slotting into third in 33.48. The day’s turn-out award was won by Muskerry’s Kate Lucey riding Rolo.

No rider managed to record a double clear in the 1.10m final, where Carbery’s Madeline McSweeney claimed the honours on Balladeer Give A Guidam, who left all the poles intact in round one, but picked up four faults in 41.66 in round two.

Here, West Carbery’s Lucy O’Connor amassed eight faults in 39.23 to place second on the day’s turn-out winner, Rowanhill Luka Chan, while an expensive four faults in round one meant Araglen’s Patrick Leddy had to settle for third on Glenara Tiger Roll. A countback was required to decide the league placings, as both McSweeney and O’Connor finished on 36 points and it was the former who topped the leaderboard with Leddy finishing third (22).

League honours

The West Carbery Branch narrowly claimed the league honours at 1m level thanks to the efforts of Grace Wycherley, who earned 36 points on Caheragh Lad. Duhallow’s Roisin Walsh, who finished fourth on Sunday with one pole down in 31.84, was just one point adrift with Woodfield Clover Joker, while Molly Kenneally of Araglen placed third on Kilcully Rocky (29).

Kenneally struck twice in the final, as she recorded the fastest double clear on Kilcully Rocky (33.13), while Wycherley had to settle for second on Caheragh Lad (37.83). The Duhallows’ Jack Deacon produced the only other double clear with Ballymac Buachaill (38.68).

The 90cm final and league were won by Duhallow’s Aoife Walsh riding the Irish Sport Horse gelding Mr Cocoa Bean, a 13-year-old bay son of Silver Heaven, with whom she also competes in Pony Club eventing, hunter trials, etc.

The 80cm final was won by Anna Hurley on Gortahork Solvig but, despite having accumulated 36 points, they could only finish runner-up in the league to the aforementioned Duhallow pairing of Olivia Roche and the ultra-consistent Clonmoyle Tiger (42). At 60cm level, the final was won by United’s Grace Forrest on Rosbrien Topsy, while the league table was topped by Carbery’s Clara Nyhan on Molly Dot Com. The day’s best turned-out winners not mentioned above were Scarteen’s Avril Rea with DSL The Explorer, Carbery’s Annalise McSweeney with Lislee Lucy, Sadhbh Berry with MLHR Orna and Avondhu’s Izzy Grumbridge riding Lambay Final Tribute.