CAVAN’S Camryn Clarke put another Grand Prix win on the board last Saturday as he rode to victory in the Mullingar Summer Horse Championships aboard Conto De Reve.

This is the second time in recent months that the combination has won a National Grand Prix, having claimed victory in the round in Wexford. Mullingar has also proved to be a happy hunting ground for the pairing having won the 1.40m at Mullingar CSI2*.

Owned by Victoria Clarke, the 13-year-old gelding is by Hermes De Reve out of the Conto-sired dam Odessa IV.

There was another big turnout for the third last round with 88 combinations going to post. From the original starters, six delivered double clears in a 17-way jump-off.

First to go against the clock, Francis Connors and Carrigshawn Vendi Royal are no strangers to this type of pressure.

In what looked like a masterclass in jump-off style, Connors delivered a very calculated round, keeping it tight in his turn backs, in particular from the double and left-handed to the vertical, before heading home clear in 40.39 to take the lead.

Carrigshawn Vendi Royal is owned by Francis, Jenny and Kate Connors; the 11-year-old mare was bred by John Warner and is by Dondoctro Ryal K out of Carrigshawn Vendi.

The mare was purchased by her current owners as a six-year- old and she has progressed through the ranks with wins at Grand Prix level.

This pairing won the round in Charleville, placed second in Maryville, fourth in Bannow and Rathangan and second in Wexford.

Foot perfect

Next up, Isobel Sheehan and Athea Clover Trend also put in a foot-perfect round, but in a slower time of 44.38, which would later see them take sixth place. This was the second good result for this combination having claimed sixth in the 1.40m Grand Prix at Tipperary Equestrian. The 13-year-old gelding is by Future Trend and is out of the Clover Clon V11-sired dam, Athea Clover Breeze.

The next challenge to Connors came from Sophie Richards and Monbeg Balou. Although Richards chose to take the inside line to the double, the combination was just not as quick across the ground as the leader and a clear in 43.76 saw her go into provisional second, and later take fifth place. This team has also featured in the National Grand Prix line-ups which include fifth in Wexford and at the National Championships. Owned by Maurice Cousins, this nine-year-old gelding was bred by Brendan Doyle and is by Balou Du Rouet and out of the Zacharov TN-sired dam, ESI Balou.

Next to take it on, Lt Michaeli Byrne and Tempo Manor knew what was required to take the win. Byrne opted for a similar route to Connors and a strong pace to the last and delivered a clear round in 42.11 for eventual fourth. Bred by Noel Wright, the 14-year-old gelding is by Sligo Candy Boy and is out of the Lux Z-sired dam, Roxy Lux. The gelding was produced from a four-year-old by Gabriel Tunney who qualified him for the Dublin Horse Show in 2015.

Robert Splaine and Laranco posed the next challenge for the leader and they meant business from the off, but were fractions off Connors’ time, stopping the clock with nothing to add in 41.01 for third place. This combination was just out of the top six placings at Tatterstalls in the Plusvital Premier Series. Owned by Sandra Devine, this 10-year-old gelding is by Bustique and out of the Garanco-sired dam, Aranca.

All eyes were on Camryn Clarke and Conto De Reve as they entered the arena at a determined pace. Clarke opted to take the inside line with the big-striding horse and this, matched with a clear turn back from the double to the vertical, saw them deliver the winning round of clear in 39.63 seconds.

With just one round of the league left to go at Hollypark before the Grand Final at the Irish Breeders’ Classic, the title is all still to play for. Francis Connors and Carrigshawn Vendi Royal are in the top position at the moment, but Camryn Clarke has still time to catch up as he is on 24 points with Conto De Reve. Currently in third place is Kian Dore and Monterey Bay on 20 points. Connors and Carrigshawn Vendi Royal took the title in 2025. Camryn on that occasion took third place, along with Jack Ryan, who both finished on 20 points.

1.30m

Winner of the 1.30m class on Saturday was Dermott Lennon aboard the Bronte Stables-owned Colano Blue, when clear in 33.95. He was chased home by Kyle McLaughlin and Fernanda 22, when they came home with nothing to add in 34.40. Saga Gunnersson took third with Dermot Forde’s Lara’s Joy, when clear in 35.11. A clear from Eddie Moloney and Oscar Van De Zeilhoek in 35.79 saw them take fourth. Junior rider, Zoe Keys and Symphonie Aeg (Bwp) slotted into fifth with a clear in 37.50, while Calum Harte and Inuk Do Casal completed the top six with a clear in 37.72.

On Friday, it was Sven Hadley and D’Extase who took the win in the 1.30m class, with a clear in 29.13. Taking the runner-up spot with a clear in 30.28 was Emily Moloney and Clovalent. Isobel Sheehan and Athea Clover Trend took third when they kept all the poles in place in 30.45. Ted Donohoe and Tankardstown Wilco accounted for eventual fourth, when they kept all the poles in place in 30.62. Slotting into fifth was Dominic Curley and BE Flygold, when they kept all the fences intact in 31.17.

Showjumping Ireland Chairman Gerard Campbell and Coldplay rounded off the top six with a clear in 32.27.