SUNDAY’s six and seven-year-old final at the Cavan three-day August show, held over a 1.30m track, attracted 42 starters. A total of nine completed round one fault-free to earn a place in the deciding jump-off.

Regula Wassmer’s seven-year-old Belmondo, a gelding by KEC Maximum Joe out of Kilmeague Clover (Voltaire), bred by Enda Corry and ridden by Megan McGettigan dominated, crossing the finish in a time of 30.30 for the win.

Cavan’s own Camryn Clarke riding Kleio De Muse (I’m Special De Muze x Verdi) finished in second place in 30.89. Reigning National Champion Patrick Hickey rode his brother William’s gelding Thunder Van Hippo-Lux (Denzel V’T Meulenhof x Arko III) into third in 30.93.

Fourth went to Shane O’Reilly aboard Brian McConville’s Bossa Nova Boy (Air Jordan Z x Lux Z), bred by Desmond Judge, in 31.22. Kevin Mackey and Caugherty Ronan (Hunter Scendro x Evita Van De Doornakkers), owned by Alyson Henry and bred by Joan Rothwell, were fifth, while Joyce Veld rode KMS Rocco (Zirocco Blue Vdl x Campbell Vdl) into sixth for owner Milley Dunning in 31.79.

Kelly has quality

The five-year-old final saw 27 combinations, which had qualified the previous day, take on the 1.20m jump-off competition on Saturday afternoon.

A dozen of the starters managed a clear first round to go forward to the timed decider. Just half of them left all the fences intact through round two.

Junior rider Ryan Kelly, riding Declan Dooley’s Gd Quality Jack (Vivant Van De Heffinck (Bwp) x Oakville Air Quality), bred by Diana H Warrington, proved best of these, stopping the clock at 35.89 to claim the win.

Second place went to Paul McDermott with Seamus Carew’s home-bred Pilot Clover C (Pilothago Tn x Clover Hill) in 36.38. Catherine Thornton riding her own and Patricia Kavanagh’s home-bred gelding Millonix (Echonix x Arko III) finished third in 36.56.

The William Lapsley-owned and bred Altaskin Omerta (Beach Ball x Arkan) was partnered to fourth by Kenneth Graham in 38.54. Ryan Kelly and his second mount, Chinablue-K Van Kattenheye Z, owned by Martin Flesk and Michael Duffy, took fifth in 38.84. Sixth went to Melissa Tinney riding her own Ballyheerin Cornet (Castlefield Cornet x Zuidam), bred by Paul Carr, in 44.09.