TUBBERBRIDE Stables in Co Sligo provided the setting on Sunday for the Connaught Autumn Amateur Classic, which featured a total prize fund of €3,500. Despite there being just three classes on the programme, the event attracted a fantastic atmosphere, with plenty of excitement and competitive action throughout the day.
Speaking afterwards, a representative of the Connaught Region Amateur Committee said: “We are delighted with the show, which featured increased entries and the Grand Prix in memory of our late Amateur friend Jennifer Gregg Cullen. It was an honour to raise funds for SHOUT Cancer Care, while celebrating her love for competing. These events aren’t possible without the kind and generous support of sponsors, supporters, friends, family and, most importantly, the competitors who come together on occasions like this.
“After such a wonderful Amateur year in the region, the talk was for the next season of jumping, notwithstanding that there is still plenty [of] jumping to be done in 2026, with qualification for the Amateur Autumn Series with four lucky competitors securing their spots last Sunday and two more qualifiers in the region before too long.”
The Welcome Stakes, which was sponsored by Isopod offered prizes to the value of €600, along with a rug for the winner of the Sportsmember and Amateur sections. Claiming this victory was Rachel Foley (A) (YR), when she partnered her own Indra to a clear in 29.78 seconds. Louise Houston (A) followed closely behind with her own Drumillar Heyday, coming home with nothing to add in 30.15. Seamus Heverin (A) also kept the poles in place, but in a slightly slower time of 32.04 and this was matched by Sportsmember Anna Tarpey aboard She Lux Quality to share third place.
Fellow Sportsmember, Tom Hogan and Limerick Jewel secured fifth, with a clear in 32.67. Rounding off the top six was Sportsmember Fiona Hanahoe and her own Ardnaglass Lady Valeroe, clear in 32.78.
Power & Speed
The second class, the Power and Speed, which was sponsored by Martin Flesk Heating and Plumbing and supported by TRI Equestrian, boasted a €700 prize fund, with prizes from first to eighth along with a rug for the winner. A total of 28 battled it out and, in the end, it was Vanessa Sweeney (A) who took the win with her own Woodbank Clover, with a clear in 23.83. The class went down to the wire, with the top six all coming home within the 25-second mark.
Rachel Foley and Indra also collected in this class, claiming the runner-up spot when they came home with nothing to add in 24.16. A familiar face in the amateur arena, Caitlin Duffy (AA) took third with Anita Duffy’s Jockeyhall Midas Touch with a clear in 24.17. Alannah Perrin (A) and LKS Florence slotted into fourth place when they kept all the poles in place in 24.45. Fifth place was filled by Aisling Foody (AA) and Innisfree Flight, when clear in 24.58. Completing the top six was Breda Perrin (AA), clear in 24.92.
Grand Prix
The feature class of the day, the Jennifer Gregg Cullen Memorial Grand Prix, boasted a prize fund of over €2,000, with prizes from first to eighth and an Aloga Equestrian rug for the winner and a rug for the highest-placed Amateur from the alternate category.
This class was sponsored by the family and friends of Jennifer and entries included a contribution for SHOUT and the NW Hospice. It was a good outing for Caitlin Duffy (AA), as she led the victory lap with Anita Duffy’s Jockeyhall Midas Touch. She was the best of six double clears in 32.81 seconds. Just over two seconds behind was Lisa Doyle (AA) and the very reliable Ballinaguilkey Dignified in 34.83 for second place. The leading A category rider and taking third was Alannah Perrin on the seven-year-old LKS Florence in 36.89. Fourth place was filled by Sophia Harding (A) and Quintano Optimus (Bw), clear in 37.05. A clear from Marie Claire Rogers (A) and Eris M25 in 37.12 saw them take fifth. Katy McAleenan (A) and the six-year-old Tullyhugh Premier Rose completed the top six, with a clear in 39.87.
There are two leading rider prizes for each Amateur category. The first leading rider prize was won by Rachel Foley and she took home a set of show jumping planks, kindly donated by Sarah Kelly, along with a rug and sash. The second leading prize was claimed by Caitlin Duffy, who partnered Jockeyhall Midas Touch, and she took home a voucher for the The Attymass Country Shop, along with a rug.
There are also best turned-out prizes for each class, sponsored by Premier Performance Ireland. The Sportsmember best turned out was Fiona Hanahoe, while the best turned out in the Grand Prix was Caroline Devine. Claiming the best turned out in the Welcome Stakes was Marie Molloy, while the best turned out in the Power and Speed was Deirdre Dolan.
The prize for the highest-placed Thoroughbred, which was kindly sponsored by Treo Eile, went to Aisling Donoghue and Silent Picture.
Along with jumping prizes, Sligo’s Kian Egan donated tickets to see Westlife in Belfast for the fundraiser, in memory of Jennifer Gregg Cullen and in aid of SHOUT Cancer Care and Northwest Hospice.
Kian and his family have themselves experienced the devastating impact of cancer, having sadly lost his father, Kevin, to the disease in 2009, making his support for a cause helping local cancer patients and their families particularly meaningful. Winners of the Westlife tickets were Louise Craig and David Harrisson, who won two tickets each.