SATURDAY’S feature at the Cavan Winter Festival, the 1.40m two-phase Mary Scully Memorial Speed Challenge, offered a prize fund of €3,000 and saw a starting field of 26 go to post.

Just 11 of the 26 combinations remained fault-free through both phases. Harrison Blair was the fastest of these, taking the win aboard Rockmount Farm’s Gerry Marron and Luc Henry Belgian-bred gelding L’Esprit Hero Z (Lexicon x For Pleasure), when the duo posted a second round time of 31.31.

Shane Goggins rode David O’Loughlin’s eight-year-old mare Svs Ashford Zodiac (Elvis Ter Putte x Je T’Aime Flamenco), bred by Brian Hutchinson, into second place in 31.44.

Sven Hadley was third with his own stallion Phenomene Bleu Vdm (Diamant De Semilly x Nabab De Reve) in 32.28, while Robert Harrison and his own Ces Wicked Contender (Contendro II x Cavalier) took fourth in 32.42.

Fifth went to Aidan Killeen riding Prime Equipment Ltd’s Inlaws Orinoco (Harlequin Du Carel x Oklund), bred by Michael Byrne, in 33.07. Francis Connors completed the top six aboard Ann Connors’ Dutch-bred gelding Mister-Go (Cornet Obolensky x Carthino Z) in 35.49.

Jason Foley and Andrew Hodgins were the joint winner of the Cladem Equi Store Puissance at Cavan \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

Shared Puissance

The Cladem Equi Store Puissance on Saturday night attracted a large crowd of spectators, which created an exciting atmosphere for the eight starters.

Round one started at 1.90m and just four jumped clear to make it into round two, which stood at 2m.

Two riders, Jason Foley riding Chedington Equestrian’s Cute Face (Christian x Argentinus) and Andrew Hodgins riding Shanaclough Luichew (Luidam x Coolcornan Wood), managed to clear the big wall at 2m to proceed to round three. The wall was raised to 2.10m for the third round. Both combinations jumped clear and decided to divide first place.

Autumn Series

Also on Saturday, a total of 46 amateur riders lined out in a bid to claim the SJI Autumn Series.

It has been a terrific year for Lisa Doyle (AA) and she topped it off by adding this win to her record. Riding the home-bred Ballinaguilkey Dignified, she was fastest of six double clears in a 16-way jump-off in a time of 31.21 seconds. This combination later went on to claim the Horse First 1.10m final at the venue.

A past winner of this class, Colm Fitzpatrick and Maretto Flight had to settle for second place, when they crossed the line in 31.24. Tara Brandon (AA) accounted for third place with BEC Phoenix, when they came home in 33.93, while in fourth place was Sheikh Samir Mirdad (AA) aboard his own Mirdads Reeef Alrahmaan, clear in 34.34.