IT was another superb weekend for Sven Hadley, as he claimed victory in the 1.35m Inter Provincials 70th Anniversary Final at the Mullingar Autumn Horse Championships on Saturday.

Riding Hadley Sporthorses’ Phenomene Bleu VDM (Diamant De Semilly x Nabab de Reve), he lodged the only double clear in a time of 39.82 and took home the winner’s share of the €5,000 on offer. A total of 19 booked their place in the final and, from those, five proceeded to the jump-off.

Comdt Geoff Curran came closest to catching the winner, coming home with four faults with the Minister for Defence’s Derrycush (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Aldato) in a time of 42.17. Harry Wood also had one on the ground with GBBS Int Ltd’s BP Lion Man (Kanna x Guidam), but in a slower time of 45.11 for third place.

Paul Beecher accounted for fourth place with Seryna Van Kuelen’s Glamstone, when they finished on eight faults in 50.43. Stephen Gibbons accounted for fifth place with his mother Jane’s Cassius Z, when he finished on his first-round score of clear in 80.79. Tadhg Beecher incurred a single time fault in the first round with Loughnatousa Olaf for sixth place.

Hourigan win

Winner of the 1.20m Inter Provincials €3,000 final was junior rider Isobel Hourigan with Alma Hourigan’s ESI Carvalho (Padinus x Quidam Junior I), bred by Mary Hughes, when she lodged a double clear in a time of 31.27.

Sven Hadley was back in the winnings, claiming second place with Hadley Sporthorses’ HSH Harper Du Seigneur when clear in 31.52. Andrew Hodgins and the eight-year-old Shanaclough Luichew, owned by John Glynn, accounted for third place, when clear in 31.74. Alannah O’Donoghue and Fairy Fort also kept the poles in place in a time of 31.88 for eventual fourth. A clear from Dermott Lennon and his own seven-year-old Starsky in 33.34 saw him take fifth place, ahead of Orla Dixon and the eight-year-old Castlelawn Lux Special, who was clear in 34.08.

Cian Byrne and China Man, winners of the 1.10 Inter Provincials 70th Anniversary Final \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

It has been a great season for Wicklow rider Cian Byrne. As well as wining the Mervue Leinster league, he added to his record when he took the win and second place in the 1.10m Inter Provincials.

Byrne took the win with Sandra Duffy/Ireland Horse Sport and Leisure Ltd’s China Man, when double clear in 30.02 and second with Ciao Bella, clear in 30.19. Eleanor Lavin and Little Ash Lady Livello took third place, when she lodged a clear in 30.38, ahead of young rider Hallie Crowe and CSF Alfie, clear in 31.28.

Junior rider Katie Duignan took fourth place with the seven-year-old Aboy Duggie, when clear in 31.41, while in sixth place was Jamie Hargaden and the seven-year-old Maggiemae, clear in 31.85.