HAPPILY, it didn’t take Ivan Ryan too long to recover from breaking his two wrists in a fall in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden at the point-to-point in Fairyhouse towards the end of April.

Firstly, the 17-year-old north Co Dublin amateur jockey was able to start his Leaving Certificate last Wednesday week, and then, four days later, he rode Ned Cash’s Masterplan to victory in the heavyweight class and then the hunter championship at Ballivor show.

The championship was dominated by the Cabragh Lodge yard of the rider’s parents Mairead and Kieran as, not only was the title won by Ivan and Masterplan, a five-year-old traditionally bred chesnut gelding by Scrapman, but Claire Gilna partnered their much beribboned Symphony to stand reserve. This eight-year-old mare by Castleforbes Lord Lancer had earlier won her lightweight class.

As he waited for his wrists to heal (they were well strapped up on Sunday), Ivan was able to call on twin brother James to do all the ground work with Masterplan. Unfortunately, James missed out on any praise he might have received in relation to the championship success as he was riding at Gowran Park where he finished sixth in a division of the mile handicap on The Bog Bank who is trained by his boss, Tom McCourt.

In finishing champion and reserve, Masterplan and Symphony qualified for the Connolly’s Red Mills Champion of Champions’ series final at Tattersalls July show as did the four-year-old class winner, the Evan Henry-owned and ridden traditionally bred Denounce gelding, Newtown Blizzard.

Also securing their tickets for the same final were the champion and reserve riding horse, Amanda Benson’s Goodnight Master, who was partnered by Brian Murphy, and the Philippa Scott-owned and ridden Ashtree Ard Diamond. Orla Maguire will be heading to the Co Meath venue with her champion amateur-ridden horse, MBF Quick Decision, as will the reserve from this section, Chris Carter with his own and Damien McCormack’s Cloonan Hector.

On Saturday, Carter and Cloonan Hector, a 10-year-old grey Irish Draught gelding, were second in their middleweight class at the AIRC festival in Mullingar where they rounded off their day by placing sixth in the RC 90 working hunter class.