AIMEE Barry rounded off a superb couple of weeks, when winning the €10,000 Friends of HHS 1.45m feature class at Marion Hughes and Miguel Bravo’s HHS Charity Show in Kilkenny last Saturday evening.

Riding her father Joe’s Garryndruig Limoncello, a mare by Amaretto D’arco, out of Garryndruig Cruising Akademi (Cruising), the pair have produced great results of late, most recently securing the runner-up spot in the 1.35m, as well as in the 1.40m National Grand Prix in Maryville last week, before adding the 1.45m victory at HHS.

Bred by Geri McGeoghan-Santry, Barry has partnered Garryndruig Limoncello since 2021 and the duo have enjoyed many impressive wins over the past three years.

Speaking after the win, Barry said: “I’m so lucky to have her (Garryndruig Limoncello). She has the heart of a lion. She always tries so hard. I’ve been struggling to balance college with riding for the past few years and she just comes out every weekend and tries her best for me, she just wants to go out and win. I’m so fortunate to get to ride her.

“I saw Timmy (Brennan) go and I thought he couldn’t be beaten. I decided to concentrate on leaving all the fences up, try my best and be as quick as I could. I think I closed my eyes after the second last fence, I just kicked on to the last and hoped, and it paid off.”

In addition to the top prize of €3,000, Barry also received the Tomas Hughes Perpetual Trophy and a five-litre bottle of wine, presented by Miguel Bravo.

Jump-off

Some 26 starters lined out for the class. Of these, just five managed to produce a first-round clear to progress to the decider against the clock.

First to go was Paul Beecher and Seryna Van Kuelen’s Dutch-bred gelding Glamstone (Berlin x Sydney). They were unlucky to have the second fence down for four faults in a time of 49.29 for eventual fifth place.

Second to go was Ballypatrick-based young rider Niamh McEvoy riding another Dutch-bred gelding, GBBS Ltd’s Jargon DN (Zirroco Blue x Indoctro). They left all the fences intact, stopping the clock at 43.34 for third place.

Next to go, Timmy Brennan and his father Tim’s mare Diadema Della Caccia (Diamant De Semilly x Cardento) produced a second clear round, theirs coming in 41.67 to head proceedings at this stage.

The penultimate rider in was HHS’s own Mikey Pender riding his own and Emma Horgan’s mare Vilja’s Cornet Ballet Queen (Cornet Obolensky x Balou du Rouet). They had the fourth fence down, crossing the finish in 45.86 for fourth place.

Last to go was Barry. She guided Garryndruig Limoncello to a fault-free round, a brave gallop to the last saw them break the finish beams in 41.31 to secure the win.