JUNIOR rider Francis Derwin put his second win on the board in the SJI Autumn Grand Prix as he rode to victory in Duffy’s Equestrian last Saturday.

He partnered the eight-year-old Parvati AEG to a double clear in a time of 37.34 and as a result took home the winner’s share of the €6,000 in the Johnny Geoghegan Lisnagranchy Stud and Hunt Horses-sponsored class.

Results

Owned by Derwin, this Belgian Warmblood mare was bred by Bvba Stal Aegten and is by Arezzo VDL and is out of the Darcon-sired dam, Sabrienne. This combination has delivered results this season, claiming third in the Gain Alltech National Grand Prix in Maryville and runner-up in the 1.35m Championship in Balmoral in May.

In total 26 combinations lined out to take on the Paul Duffy-designed course and of those, 18 delivered first round clears with five of those answering all the questions second time out.

Jack Brennan was hot on Derwin’s heels as he took it on with MHS High Hopes. The Kilkenny rider followed a similar path but just wasn’t as quick across the ground and in the end had to settle for second place, when clear in 38.10. Bred by Ita Brennan, MHS High Hopes is a 12-year-old gelding by Quidam Junior I out of the Cavalier-sired Gowran Lady. This combination also had a great season, winning the Gain Alltech Grand Prix in Galway Equestrian and later sixth in the round at Wexford.

Double clear

The next double clear was delivered just four combinations later by Daniel McAlinden aboard his own Java QP. McAlinden opted for the longer lines and he came home in a time of 50.12, which temporarily put him into fourth place. Bred by Vasco Canto Moniz, the nine-year-old gelding is by Milton Du Murier FR. This is the first Grand Prix placing for the combination.

McAlinden’s fourth position held only temporarily as next in, Taylor Sweeney took over a second and a half off his time with his own 15-year-old gelding, Domino Van De Valhoeve, when she clocked 48.61, which put her into provisional third.

Speaking after the win, Derwin said he has had the eight-year-old since she was five but because she is not an Irish-bred was not able to test her in the young horse classes here.

“We were taking it easy with her just jumping in the back rings to get her going and it’s really showing now, hopefully she keeps improving,” he said.

“There was a good few in the jump-off, I was second to go and I had to be as quick as I could because there were some fast ones coming after me.

"This is her last show in Ireland before we head away to Vilamoura so it was a good class to get her into the ring to jump a bit bigger before we head away.”

Strong start

Fourth last to go, Glenn McCullough knew what he needed to do as he took it on with his own Galwaybay Louie and although he set off at a determined pace, he wasn’t as quick back to the last two fences and clear in 47.99 would see him take third place. This result meant Sweeney moved to fourth and McAlinden fifth.

Gawlaybay Louie is a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Luidam out of the Irak E dam Humeur De La Rose. In August the pairing finished second in Duffy’s in a 1.40m class.

Mayo rider Shane Goggins and Boleybawn Cayman unfortunately clipped the second part of the double, crossing the line in a time of 39.58 and finishing as the fastest four-faulter for sixth. Owned by Jack Goaley and bred by Ronan Rothwell, the 11-year-old gelding is by Cassidee out of the Ard VDL Douglas mare Boleybawn Riverto. The pair recently won the 1.35m Ailish Connolly Memorial Grand Prix in Cavan and have been consistently placed in the Connaught Region Grand Prix.

Connaught Region Autumn Series 1.25m class winners Aoife McCabe and Red Bull Quality Z being presented by Kenneth Feeney at Duffys Equestrian \ Ballynagran Photography

Amateur league

Victory in the SJI Autumn Amateur Series went to A category rider Niall Hughes when he delivered a double clear with his own eight-year-old, Perle Fine, in a time of 36.68 seconds. AA rider Lisa Hitchmough was less than a second behind with nothing to add aboard her own Manija, in 37.54.

It was a good day for the Sweeneys as Vanessa (A) and Woodbank Clover also came home with nothing to add in 37.88. Máire Cosgrove (AA) put in a very fast round with her own eight-year-old Gemini Clover, clocking 34.78 but four faults meant fourth place on this occasion. Nicola Burke (AA) also suffered a similar fate with her own Baronscourt Dancing Boy, but in a slower time of 38.80 for fifth place. Completing the top six line-up was Aisling Tonery (AA) and Ti Amo Darcy, four faults in 40.02.

1.20m

Winner of the 1.20m was Andrew Hodgins when he delivered a clear with his own Sandra in a time of 32.71. Following closely behind was Aoife McCabe and Red Bull Quality, in a time of 33.56. Slotting into third was Gary Dooley and Landencos Lady, clear in 35.63, ahead of Fiona O’Malley and DPS Orchestrator, clear in 36.58. Fifth place belonged to Glenn McCullough and Heritage Serena, clear in 36.63, while in sixth was Gabriel Slattery and Castlelawn King Claudius, clear in 37.03.