CAVAN Equestrian also hosted the finals of the Horse Sport Ireland Development Series for all young horse ages groups last weekend.

The six-year-old final presented quite a challenge for the 37 starters, evidenced by the fact that just two of them managed to produce a double-clear round.

Twenty-year-old Emma McEntee came out on top with Gortacar Suspicious Minds, a gelding by O.B.O.S Quality 004 out of Walterstown Girl (Cruising), who was bred by Ralph Morgan. They left all the fences intact and stopped the clock at 36.94.

Second place went to another young rider, Cora Sharkey. She guided his father Joseph’s AHG Whiterock Duggie (Ard VDL Douglas x Raheenwood Ginger), bred by Ann Gannon Clancy, to a foot-perfect double clear in 37.57.

Emily Turkington claimed third place with Tricolor LLC and Twin Oaks Ventures LLC’s Tricolor MB (Numero Uno - Rocadero) as the fastest four-faulter in 42.11. The gelding was bred by Shane Hanley. Fourth was Austin Broderick’s home-bred BP Skybound (Zirocco Blue x Cruising) with Kevin Gallagher in the saddle.

MB Lorenzo R (Tolan R x Voltaire), ridden by Michael Roche, slotted into fifth, while Olive Clarke was sixth with Ronan Rothwell’s Kalimera Van de Nethe Z (Kasanova de la Pomme - Quasimodo Z).

Commenting afterwards, Emma said: “I’ve had him for a few months, I got him in July. He has become really consistent at this level and getting more and more competitive. I was fourth to go out of nine in the jump-off. My horse is quite big and has a big stride so I knew I could move across the ground, so it worked out.”

Smyth claims five-year-old final

NOLETTA Smyth’s Mulvin Springball won the HSI five-year-old development series on Sunday morning at Cavan Equestrian Centre.

Some 42 combinations lined out for the class which offered a €4,000 prize pot. Of these, 21 made it through to the second round timed decider.

With Jonathan Smyth in the saddle Mulvin Springball, a mare by Beach Ball out of Laura’s Last (HHS BR Charlton), recorded a jump-off time of 32.34 to take the top prize.

Young rider Jodie Creighton, riding Gillian Creighton’s Glenaguile View (Olympic Lux - Glenaguile Rose), took second place when they stopped the clock at 33.10.

Third went to Grand Prix winner Dermott Lennon riding another one by Beach Ball, Debbie McGoldrick’s Play Ball. They crossed the finish in 33.14.

Brendan Murphy was fourth with Linda Murphy’s Shirsheen Calensky (Cornet Obolensky x Regal Sting) in 33.79, while Shane Treanor on Hugh Treanor’s Trebra Lorenzo (O.B.O.S Quality 004 x Ard VDL Douglas) slotted into fifth.

Lady Georgine Forbes’ Castleforbes Gillian (Kannan - Libero H), with Kelly Taggert on board, completed the line-up in sixth.

Victory for Moloney

Eddie Moloney and Ardkyle B secured the top spot in the HSI seven and eight-year-old division on Saturday evening at the venue.

Owned by Peter O’Toole, the gelding is by Aganix Du Seigneur out of Abercrombie B (O-Piloth) and was bred by Etter Sportpferdeag. They crossed the finish in a time of 34.35 to secure the victory and the lion’s share of the €4,000 prize fund.

Nicole Kershaw and Keonan Stables’ seven-year-old Clovalent (Valent x Cruising) took the runner-up spot in 34.68.

Third place went to Elizabeth Phillips’ seven-year-old mare Justinov (Bustique x Ustinov), ridden by Jenny Rankin, in 35.07.

Young rider Leo Carey riding Kan Cruise (Kannan x Cruising) took fourth as the fastest four faulter in 33.46.

Emma McEntee guided Jenny Lusk’s Boss Quality (OBOS Quality 004 x Clover Fields) to fifth, while Eddie Moloney rode Niall Greene’s Damma Kannan Supreme (Kannan x Camiro De Haar Z) into sixth.