ASHBROOK’s Karina Abraham broke the West Region’s stranglehold on last Sunday’s Connolly’s Red Mills/Association of Irish Riding Clubs national show jumping championships at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre when winning the RC70 title on Chandler.

Abraham was one of two riders who got through to the third round where she went clear on the 17-year-old bay gelding Chandler while Enniskerry’s Olive Walker was disqualified with Taberios Girl. Two time penalties in the first round, prevented Kera O’Haire from progressing to the third with Fernwood Spirit.

“It was a rather emotional win for me on Sunday,” revealed the New Zealand native. “These championships were only my fourth horse show since getting back into riding. Before my comeback, the last time I was in a show ring was close to 30 years ago.

“I have a wonderful partner in Chandler and I could not have done it without him; he has taken on the role of looking after me and giving me the confidence to keep going. I also could not have managed the day without the help and support from Caroline, John and Mags from Ashbrook RC and thank you to everyone else involved.”

There was plenty of non-championship action throughout the day with most interest being shown in the young horse class where Killcarrick’s Richard Hunter posted the best two-round score (four faults) on Greannanstown Exhibition. Castle Carrig’s Sarah O’Dea finished second on LLS Ladies View (five faults) with Benbulben’s Anna Burke slotting into third on Ballyard Golden Eddie (eight faults).

A five-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Dodarde E Z, Greannanstown Exhibition was bred in Co Tipperary by Geraldine Flynn out of the OBOS Quality 004 mare OBOS Patricia. Hunter won the young horse dressage class at the AIRC Festival here in Mullingar in June on the bay who he also competes with Showjumping Ireland and in EI100 (Amateur) classes with under Eventing Ireland rules.