THE Allen family sponsored the Aloga Equestrian five/six-year-old Handicap at last Thursday’s Bannow and Rathangan Show where a total of 68 combinations lined out in a bid to take the win in the €3,000 class.

In the end, it was two five-year-olds that claimed first and second place in what was an exciting 21-way jump-off. Leading the victory lap was Oisin Aylward on Sheila Aylward’s Paraldine D when double clear in 36.37 seconds. Alongside the win, he also took home €500 which was sponsored by Rathangan Bar for the highest-placed five-year-old. The Dutch-bred mare is by Liamant W.

Slotting into second place when clear in 37.97 was Shane Kenny aboard Darragh Killoran’s Killahurler Lady Syble. Bred by Sean Hurley, the mare is by Ganesh Hero Z out of Poochie x VDL Arkansas.

Best of the six-year-olds and taking third place was Elliott Reeves on Luke Drea’s Jengisk Del Colle when clear in 39.60. This French-bred is by Diamant De Semilly out of the Cassini Li mare Z Cetra. Slotting into fourth was Marta Hughes Bravo and the six-year-old ABC Jaytee Flamenco (0/0 39.72). By Je T’Aime Flamenco, the gelding was bred by Patrick Kehoe out of the Mermus R mare ABC Tiny Dancer.

Jason Higgins and the five-year-old Universal Soldier secured fifth place when they crossed the line with nothing to add in 40.24. The Corporal VDL gelding is owned and bred by Michael Condon. Rounding off the top six was Mark Cleary aboard the Michael Kelleher-owned five-year-old Martello Monsieur (0/40.50). This home-bred is by Mylord Carthago out of the Quidam Junior-sired Martello Holly.

Mervue Leinster Summer Tour

Sponsored by Trinity Motors and Artic Tack Stud, 25 went to post in the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour and, from those, nine double clears were delivered. Taking the win was Jack Ryan aboard the Northlawn Farm-owned Calgrafi Dwb, when he galloped home in 38.10. This 10-year-old mare is by Bogegardens Grafs Stakkato.

Ryan was chased home by Francis Connors and RNH Valentino when he was just over a second behind in 39.11. Connors also took fourth place with the seven-year-old Newmarket Darsouilles in 41.83. Separating Connors’ placings was Elliott Reeves and Gorsehill Ruby in 41.44. Accounting for fifth place was Gemma Phelan and Greenacres Cicero in a time of 43.14. Completing the top six was Sarah Connell and Gliding Light (44.56).

Leading the victory lap in the Sue’s Coffee-sponsored 1.20m class was Brendan Murphy when he was the fastest of 10 double clears in 36.59.

Little separated the next placing as last year’s overall winner Cian Byrne took second place and the young rider prize when he clocked 36.76 aboard the six-year-old Larina Cruise.

Kyle McLaughlin and Cantara 115 took third with a clear in 38.29, ahead of Deirdre Doyle and Kancruise in 38.51. Local rider Patrick Byrne claimed the next two placings, taking fifth with Oughterard Diva (42.52) and sixth with BGS Quality Amber (48.82).

Winner of the Neville Hotels-sponsored 1.10m Mervue League was Laura Walshe (AA) and her home-bred Ballinaguilkey Heritage when she came home clear in 31.57. Amateur riders dominated this class, claiming five of the top six placings.

No stranger to success in this league, Marie Hartley (AA) took the runner-up spot when clear in 31.93, ahead of Hannah McNiven (AA) and Odetta (32.15). Junior rider Jack Murphy and Sam Salad claimed fourth when they came home clear in 33 seconds, ahead of Ashley O’Sullivan (AA) and Dowdstown Quality (33.88). A clear from Leonie Dunne (A) and Cavalion 26 in 33.94 saw them take sixth.