Sligo’s Dolan on song at the AIRC national hunter trials

KARL Dolan notched up two wins out of two at the AIRC National Hunter Trials Championships at Flowerhill Equestrian Centre in Galway last Sunday.

The Stracomer rider picked up his first win of the day in the young horse class aboard his five-year-old gelding Kardoen in perfect foot conditions and glorious sunshine. Dolan registered one of three clear jumping rounds in the competition over Oliver Walsh’s 18-fence track which included 24 jumping efforts but his time of five minutes 37 seconds left him on a total of 13 penalties, ahead of the target of six minutes.

James O’Meara was next best on Abington Lady. The Anvil rider flew around the course but racked up 62 penalties for being too fast across the country.

The championships used an optimum time rather than against the clock while competitors were given a 20-second window to complete the course. If they finished outside of this, they incurred time penalties.

Dolan notched up his second win of the day in the Mixed Pairs class with his clubmate Tara Fergus Sheridan (Tirconaill River Rose). The Stracomer duo were the only pair to finish on a clean sheet. Tynagh’s Thomas Daniels (Barnaboy Jackeen) had to settle for second for the second year in-a-row with his teammate Stephen Greene (Indian Puzzle) from Tir Conaill on five time penalties.

Karl Dolan was delighted with his results: “I have owned Kardoen since he was three-year-old and he wouldn’t have seen many cross-country fences before Sunday, so he stepped up to the challenge exceptionally well and answered all of the questions asked of him. In the pairs, I had a great lead from Tara on her experienced mare so all I had to do was keep up and stay clear which we did, and Tara judged the time to perfection.”

Denise Murphy jointly won the Advanced Primary championship with Anne Nixon where clear jumping rounds were plentiful among the field of 54 competitors. Only 12 riders, however, completed the course on a clean sheet when time was factored into the equation.

Denise Murphy (SHL Point Taken) and Anne Nixon (Its Miller Time) both crossed the line in a time of five minutes 42 seconds to share the spoils between Earls Well in Cork and Mosstown in Longford. Springmount’s Jenny Jakeman completed the podium after Black Comedy stopped the clock three seconds ahead of the optimum time.

Murphy said afterwards: “I was delighted to win. It’s my first year in the riding club so my first time in Flowerhill and I have to say the event was brilliantly run. Although the course was challenging which was to be expected, the foot-perfect conditions made it a lot easier and I think my horse enjoyed it more than me.”

Over 50 riders contested the Intermediate championship where the top six riders all finished clear. Time proved to be hugely influential as the top two riders were both one second off the target of 5.12.

Anna Burke claimed the spoils after Rookery Blue crossed the line one second ahead of the target for Benbulben, while Ciara Shannon had to settle for second after her 10-year-old gelding Browneshill Barney, stopped the clock on 5.13 for Coole Lane in Carlow.

There was double delight in the Advanced Intermediate championship where two riders shared the spoils. Five riders came home with nothing to add leaving the clock to decide the winners. Kilrainy’s Roisin Gilsenan (Emerald Delight) and Knocknamana Country’s Bernadette Decourcey (Lisrua River) both registered five minutes flat to share victory. Meaths’s Ian Quinlan was next best on Cruise Control II in 4.55.

Meanwhile, in the remaining pairs’ competitions, a Kilkenny-based club won the Advanced Primary section for the sixth year. This time it was the turn of Thomastown and District who filled the top two places. Margaret Walsh (The Unknown Soldier) and Lisa O’Neill (Mon Petit Chou) laid claim to the red rosettes. Their clubmates Aine Nolan (Persian Knight) and Jade Douglas had to settle for second with two time penalties.

The Mosstown duo of Siobhan O’Connell (Dravid GB) and Dermot Hebron (Derisney Glen Cool Dancer) won the Intermediate section, ahead of Letterkenny’s Rachel Carton (Aughavannon Merlin) and Anne Chambers (Condors Lucky Star).