INTERNATIONAL action kicked off in Mullingar CSI2* on Friday morning, with the Glenpatrick International 1.20m Speed class. With 81 combinations declared to jump, the class went down to the wire, as 48 pairings delivered clears. Following a series of good results in the TRM Showjumpers Spring Tour, Sven Hadley kicked off this show on a good note, as he clinched victory. Riding his own Topspin, he came home with nothing to add in a time of 49.77 seconds. Bred by Lena and Robert Litzen, the mare is by Etrusco and is out of the Richard of York-sired dam, Black Beauty. This mare has been a loyal servant for Hadley, with close to 600 show jumping points.

Not content with the win, the Galway rider also took third place with HSH Harper Du Seigneur, when he delivered another foot-perfect round in 51.24. Hadley’s closest rival was Denise Hopkins aboard the John Carey-owned MDSandyhill Princess Mia, stopping the clock in a time of 50.99.

Kilkenny rider Eddie Moloney and the Equinimity AMR-owned seven-year-old mare Rosamund, claimed fourth place, when they came home with nothing to add in 52.05. Winner of the Spring tour in Mullingar, Katie Nallon added to her record as she took fifth with Ann Igoe’s OBOS Quality 004-sired eight-year-old mare Claires Delight, when they came home clear in 52.69. Completing the top six was Ellie Humphries aboard Alision Mercer’s seven-year-old Luidam-sired mare, Rossmount Luis, who was clear in 53.09.

Aisling Byrne 1.40m Speed

The second class of the day, the Aisling Byrne 1.40m Speed, saw a win for Rhys Williams and Cowboy Balou, when they were fastest of 23 clears in a time of 63.62. Williams is no stranger to success at Mullingar, having last year won the Grand Prix with Playboy JTZ. Cowboy Balou is a German-bred by Cornets Balou and is out of the Poker-sired dam, Stutbuch.

Almost three seconds behind was Susan Fitzpatrick and Keatingstown Mister in a time of 66.34 for second place. It was a good day for the Williams family, as Coen Williams and Conthanja took third place, when clear in 67.49. A clear from Eoin Brennan and the 15-year-old stallion, Eskola M in 68.76 saw them take fourth place. Accounting for fifth place was Alice Wachman aboard Atlantic Du Seigneur, clear in 68.88. Mikey Pender followed closely behind aboard Cyprus, clear in 69.66 for sixth place.

Glenn Wood 1.25m

Sven Hadley was back in the ribbons, as he took the win in the Glenn Wood-sponsored 1.25m International Table C on Saturday morning. Riding HSH Harper Du Seigneur, he clocked the winning time of 56.34. Bred by Hadley Sport Horses, the stallion is by Aganix Du Seigneur and is out of the Chippson-sired dam, Covers Chip. Lee Carey was almost a second behind with Kan Cruise, coming home in a time of 57.17. Third place belonged to Aine Shortall and Killerisk Can Ya when she stopped the clock in a time of 58.47. Cian Byrne and Ciao Bella accounted for fourth place, when they clocked 58.73. Katie Nallon and Claires Delight were back in the ribbons, taking fifth when they came home in 59.21. Annabel Shields and Royal Emerald QC completed the top six, when they galloped home in a time of 60.03.

Castleforbes Stud 1.30m Speed

The proceeding 1.30m Speed saw 70 combinations battle it out and the pressure was on, with 21 of them maintaining clean sheets. Taking this victory was Kildare rider Derek McConnell and Longfield Quinlui, when they stopped the clock in a time of 56.22. Owned by McConnell, the 12-year-old mare is by Quintender and is out of the Luidam-sired dam, Dshlyi. This pairing recently took third place in the 1.35m Mervue tour in Jag and the runner-up place in the 1.30m Mini Grand Prix in March.

Shane Goggins came closest to catching the winner with Boleybawn Cayman, when they came home in a time of 57.73. Sean Monaghan and Hard To Beat took third place when they galloped home in 61.28. Fourth place belonged to Annelies Loose and Folly Stuff, when they clocked 61.69. Slotting into fifth place was Jake Hunter and CSF Andrew in a time of 62.85, while in sixth was Gillian Bond and Kilmountain Saphira in a time of 63.08.

National Science Park 1.45m

On Saturday evening, the National Science Park 1.45m class took centre stage, with 75 combinations going to post. Returning from the UK where she is now based with Louisa Church, Jessica Burke’s talent shone as she took the honours. Riding the stallion, African Affair she took the win and with it the €9,306 on offer and the Paddy Dunican Memorial Trophy. This impressive 13-year-old stallion is owned by Louisa Church and was bred by Antoinette McKeowne and is by Billy Congo and out of Dashing Dalliance. This paring have had a good run to Mullingar, finishing seventh in the CSIO3* Grand Prix in Kronenberg, runner-up in the 1.50m CSI3* in Cabourg and fourth in the CSI4* 1.50m in Canteleu at the start of the month.

From the start list, 11 booked their place over the Rafael Suarez-designed jump-off course and six double clears were delivered. Wexford rider Patrick Hickey partnered the 11-year-old stallion Casago II to a clear in 39.11 for second. Eoin Brennan and Limestone Briarhill Lui following closely behind, as they stopped the clock in a time of 39.37 for third place. Kian Dore accounted for fourth with Puerto Rico Van’T Roosakker when they came home in 39.99. A clear from Aidan Killeen and Caquarista PS in 41.53 saw them take fifth place. Kilkenny young rider Emily Moloney and Temple Alice put in a brilliant display of riding, crossing the line in 47.16 for sixth place.