IT WAS another busy year for amateur riders as they contested a host of leagues and major titles around the country. The first challenge for many was booking their place to the Dublin Horse Show and again this wasn’t for the faint hearted as each qualifier went down to the wire. Once those qualified riders got to Dublin, the competition went up a gear as hopefuls endeavoured to book their place in the final.
DHS Amateur National
Championship
On Saturday evening of the Show, 12 combinations lined out to contest the highly anticipated National Amateur Championship. Claiming this championship was Niamh Quinn and Clonguish Vivaro.
Following a tough first round, five booked their place against the clock and all were AA category riders. Winner of the opening qualifier in Kernan’s in May and first to go against the clock, Caroline Gaston put it up to the rest as she put in a fast round with Miss Roman Kora, but this fast round came at a price as she had one on the ground. She later finished as the fastest four faulters and took fourth place. Jody Townend and JT Calover Junior stormed in next, producing a flawless which would see her take third.
No stranger to this pressure, having booked her place in the final on past occasions, Caitlin Duffy and Jockeyhall Midas Touch reduced the time to beat, which saw her take the lead and later the reserve title.
All eyes were on Laura Walshe and Ballinaguilkey Heritage who had won the qualifier on Friday, but she saw their hopes dashed when they had one on the ground in 34.34, which would see them take fifth, just behind Gaston.
Last to go, the pressure was on Niamh Quinn and Clonguish Vivaro and she rose to the challenge as she delivered the winning round.
Placed second in the qualifier on Friday, Holly Morrissey and Ad Fundum D’Eres were denied their place in the jump-off when they incurred a time fault in the first round, but it was enough to take sixth place.
Niamh Quinn and Clonguish Vivaro won the amateur show jumping final at the Dublin Horse Show \ Paul Henson jumpinaction.net
Cavan Amateur Championships
In October, amateur riders travelled to Cavan to contest the two-day Amateur Championships. A popular event on the amateur schedule, all classes were well supported.
It has been a great season for Laura Walsh, and she added to her impressive record when she claimed the AA section of the Schockemohle Indoor Derby aboard her hombred Ballinaguilkey Heritage, she was the fastest of seven double clears from a field of 36. Less than a second separated the next placing as Kevin O’Reilly and Furore S, secured second place. Another familiar face in the winner’s enclosure Colm Fitzpatrick and Bluestone Diamond Fly took third.
A total of 66 combinations lined out in the A section and with riders up for the challenge, 12 delivered double clears. Leading the victory lap was Kate Houlihan and Boss Z. A split second divided the next placing as Keith Cullen and Kellystown Elijah secured second, ahead of Aoife Maguire and Pharos Hazy Cove.
The weekend’s jumping came to a close with the feature class, the Plusvital Grand Prix, with 43 riders taking up the gauntlet in the A section. Out of the original starters, 15 maintained clear rounds in the first round and from these, five delivered double clears. Claiming victory was Amanda-Jayne Comyn and Gmh Ability. Comyn was chased home Shauna Wilson and Omard Hannah. Denise Byrne opted for the safer lines with Cara Aurora, and this paid off as they put in clear for third place.
Plusvital Grand Prix (AA) Section
Laura Walsh topped off her weekend as she rode to victory in the AA section with the home-bred Ballinaguilkey Heritage. Vicky Curran and Rnh Coco Chanel came closest to catching the winner but had to settle for second. Taking third place was Jim Maneely and Keamore Lord Cruis, who also kept the poles in place, albeit in a slower time.
Amateur National Championships
Jumping in the Amateur National Championships began on Saturday morning at Mullingar Equestrian with the 90cm Welcome Stakes. The opening class was very close, which set the tone for jumping over the course of the weekend. Emerging the winner was Sportsmember Lloyd Waddling and Kalinka. Taking the runner-up place was Julie-Anne Hannon [A] when fractions behind, ahead of David Ryan (A) and Lawnview Diamond.
Winner of the Aloga Amateur Power and Speed was Colm Fitzpatrick [AA] and Bluestone Diamond Fly when fastest of 34 clears in a time. Little divided the next placing as Ava Stubb and Tullyhill Lucy Diamond, while Aileen McDermott (AA) added to her record when she took third with Amber Balou.
Roisin Gilsenan took the win in the Studio & Academy Sportsmember class.The only other clear of the class was delivered by Lloyd Wadding and Kalinka in 37.54.
All eyes were on the NAPA Amateur Derby in the afternoon and achieving this victory was Caitlin Duffy [AA] and Jockeyhall Midas Touch, when late to go, she delivered the winning round. Leinster league champions, Gemma Drennan [AA] and Cool Finesse, took the runner-up spot, and also took third with Cavachino.
A total of 52 qualified combinations lined out to contest the Peter Dargan Memorial Farmers Journal A Championship. Kate Houlihan [A] was crowned champion when she was fastest of the seven double clears aboard her own Boss Z. Almost two seconds behind was Nicola O’Sullivan and Rossabelle Fortunas to take second place. Third place was filled by Denise Byrne and Cara Aurora, ahead of Fiona Tansey and Talbots Lass. Nora O’Donovan and Muckross Shadow opted for the longer routes and clocked 44.85, ahead of Breda Perrin and Lks Bianca.
It was a weekend to remember for Colm Fitzpatrick as he led the victory lap in the Honeycomb sponsored Paddy Mullen Memorial Amateur Grand Prix, when he partnered Maretto Flight to a clear in 35.03 in the 15-way jump-off. Fitzpatrick and Maretto Flight had had claimed the win in the Demlay Equestrian speed class and third with Bluestone Diamond, with Gemma Drennan and Cook Finesse separating his placings.
Runner-up in the Grand Prix went to Vicky Curran and Rnh Coco Chanel, while in third was Karen Boylan [A] and Pinegrove Aro. Lisa Doyle [AA) added to her impressive record when she took third with her homebred Ballinaguilkey Dignified. Kate Houlihan [A] returned to the line-up to take fifth with Boss Z, while Breda Perrin [A] and Lks Bianca added to their takings when they completed the top six.
Taking centre stage on Saturday morning in Balmoral was the Botanica International Amateur Championship with 25 hopefuls putting their best foot forward. Taking this year’s title was Caitlin Duffy [AA] and Jockeyhall Midas Touch when they were fastest of four double clears in the 11-way jump-off. Duffy was chased home by Kate Murray [A] and Crynolisk Feisty Blue who also delivered a clear but in a slightly slower time. Little divided the next placing as Egle Zakaraite [A] and Talbot Siss took third. Last of the double clears and slotting into fourth was Jane Hennigan [A] and Mayfield Romeo.
Waterford Tipperary Amateur League
The final of the Mackey Ireland Waterford Tipperary SJI Amateur League came to an exciting conclusion at Dualla Show at the end of August. A total of four AA riders and four A riders booked their place in what can only described as an exciting jump-off.
Emma Walsh and the prolific Lux Like Diamonds once again showed their dominance as they claimed the overall AA title and the final win. Not satisfied with winning the AA section, Emma also took the runner-up spot with Carrow Cornet. Derrick Burke took third with Tyreda Chip, when they were fastest of the four faulters in the jump off. Slotting into fourth was Annmarie Hynes and Busy Lizzie, carrying four faults in the jump-off. Runner-up in the AA overall league was Gary Flynn and Bahrain Prince, while Hannah McNiven (Hey You) and Niall Browne Vicomte DH Z, finished joint third.
In the A section, it was Aileen O’Connor and Quality Diamond that delivered the winning round. Taking the runner-up spot and the overall A title was Ruth Walsh, and the ever-reliable Joes Charm. David Ryan with Moonlight Cruising had a super clear round to take third place. Taking fourth place was Des Hourigan and Rosscarberys Lucky Star. A strong performance from Hourigan and Rosscarberys Lucky Star saw them finish as runner-up in the league, ahead of Mary O’Meara and Kilconnel Pluto.
SJI Autumn Series Cavan
In November, a total of 46 amateur riders lined out in a bid to claim the SJI Autumn Series at Cavan Equestrian. It has been a terrific year for Lisa Doyle (AA) and she topped it off by adding this win to her record. Riding the homebred Ballinaguilkey Dignified, she was fastest of six double clears in a 16-way jump-off This combination later went on to claim the Horsefirst 1.10m Final.
A past winner of this class, Colm Fitzpatrick and Maretto Flight had to settle for second place. Tara Brandon (AA) accounted for third place with BEC Phoenix, while in fourth place was Sheikh Samir Mirdad [AA] aboard his own Mirdads Reeef Alrahmaan. Accounting for fifth place was Maeve Cotter and Cloonturk Picasso while in sixth was Sarah Kate O’Donovan (AA) and Diamond Infinity.