THE final round of the Stepping Stones to Success League took place at Wexford Equestrian on Wednesday and there were no surprises when the winners of the Childéric Saddles-sponsored four and five-year-old classes and leagues were announced.

Unfortunately, there was a disappointing turnout for the finals even though points and a half were on offer and prizes in the two leagues went down to 10th place. It was raining too at times although efforts were made to keep the jumping judges, Ian Fearon and Britain’s Jennie Loriston Clarke, dry by moving one of the huts into the Derby Arena. The course designer, Dereck Hamilton, and builder, Pat Peare, had to take their chances with the rain.

The dressage phase was judged indoors by Anne-Marie Dunphy, while Johnny Kyle once again assessed conformation, although on Wednesday he had a bit more to do as the horses were stripped and trotted up in hand. As well as the usual change of guest jump judge each week, this year Órla Roche invited different dressage judges to Wexford Equestrian, a move which proved popular with riders.

Roche was delighted that Tricia Bracegirdle could visit the Tomhaggard venue on Wednesday to present the class and league prizes on behalf of Childéric Saddles. “Tricia is passionate about fitting saddles for young horses to give them the best possible start,” reported Roche who was also pleased with the on-going support from Irish Horse Gateway.

The four-year-old league and Wednesday’s class was won by Tullibards Stud’s Tullibards Chance Taken, a mare from the second crop of the Grand Prix show jumper Tullibards Bennys Legacy. The bay, who was partnered by Jennifer Kuehnle, was home-bred by Hans Jurgen Kuehnle out of the Ricardo Z mare Tullibards Most Wanted.

Tullibards Chance Taken was a clear winner of Wednesday’s class completing on a total of 224.4, having easily won the jumping phase on 170.5. Daniel Anderson finished second with Richard Ames’s OBOS Quality 004 gelding, Belline Diamond Geezer (208.8) whose stable-companion, Fighting Spirit (by Freeman VDL) finished third (207.2), having topped the dressage scores on 54.7.

Tullibards Chance Taken won the league on 34 points, ahead of Belline Diamond Geezer (30.5) with Fighting Spirit fourth on 25. Third place went to Tullibards Stud’s home-bred A. Umonia Z mare Tullibards On Tour (29.5). The dual winner, whose dam is due shortly to Bennys Legacy, may do the Dublin young event horse qualifiers or could tackle the remaining RDS show jumping qualifiers.