TAKING place just after the Puissance on Saturday, amateur riders put on a great display of riding in the Main Arena as they battled it out in a bid to claim the championship title.

Although these riders were last into the arena and jumped under lights, there was no lacking in determination. In total, 12 contested the championship and the start list consisted of five category A riders and two AA riders.

Taking the win was Aideen Kirby and her home-bred Derg Masterpiece. Bred by Kirby herself, the mare is an eight-year-old by Lancelot and out of the Clover Hill mare Show Piece.

This combination is no stranger to the success in the RDS having last year won the small event horse class and the working hunter class. They have been competing in these classes for the last three years.

Speaking after the win, Kirby said: “We are just over the moon with the result. It’s a great achievement, especially as I bred, broke and produced the mare myself. Although we had much success in the RDS in other classes, it has been 18 years since I competed at the RDS in the amateurs. It was great to see so many people stay on to watch the class and there was great comradeship in the amateur ranks. I would like to thank my family, Owen my husband and my two daughters, Aoife and Sorcha, for all their support and help.”

Of the mare, Kirby added: “She is always willing to please and she seems to know when she is in the RDS and wants to do well. She had qualified on Friday evening, so I rested her on Saturday. I knew going into the Main Arena on Saturday that she was full of confidence and I could go for it.

Aideen, who is from Birdhill, Co Limerick, enjoys breeding horses and has a few broodmares at home. She still has the dam, Show Piece, who continues to produce foals.

JUMP-OFF

First to go in the jump-off, Samantha Heaney had the difficult task of setting the pace. Riding LCC Caseys Cruise, she was denied her double clear when they faulted at the last. Her time of 40.16 seconds later saw her claim seventh place.

Second in the qualifier the day before, Marie Hartley and Scarthill Vendi had their eye on the title but they saw their hopes of a win were dashed when they knocked the last. A fast time of 43.31 saw them take the lead and then eventual fourth.

A past winner of the championship, Gillian Blanche knew what she needed to do as she took to the track with Bellegrove Prima Donna. A tight line to the double at 9C matched with a daring gallop to the last saw the first double clear in 40.17.

Nicola Hall and Lady Killer, didn’t waste any time, but the gallop to the last cost her dearly as the pole fell to the floor. Hall ended up as the fastest of the four-faulters in 37.16 which later saw her take fifth.

Last of the AA riders, Deirdre Dolan fell victim to the last fence aboard Bonnie Miss Sarco but her time of 40.10 saw her take sixth.

Winner of the qualifier the day before, the penultimate combination of Adrian Gilmartin and Carnaval Cocktail could have been considered hot favourites. Cheered on by the crowd, the Sligo rider meant business from the start and reduced the target to clear in 38.90.

Last to go, all eyes were on Kirby and Derg Masterpiece. Throwing caution to the wind, Kirby galloped home in clear in 36.46 to take victory from Gilmartin and in the process, demoted Blanche into third.