ON Saturday, at Mullingar’s two-star show, the Glenn Wood CSI2* 1.25m Speed saw 73 combinations going to post in the Table C class. Following on from a great run of success the previous week, Sven Hadley lodged his first win of the second week, when he lodged a clear aboard Make It Easy in a time of 54.62.

This nine-year-old stallion is by HBR Don’t Touch It M. This combination recorded a win in the 1.20m the week before and fourth in the 1.25m speed class. Hadley also added sixth place to his record sheet with HSH Harper du Seigneur. Although they had one on the ground, a fast time of 55.30 meant that an extra four penalties saw his time adjust to 59.30.

Marta Hughes-Bravo lodged a faster time of 52.05 with Miss Belgium 111, but four faults saw her time adjusted to 56.05 for second. Stephen Gibbons lodged two international wins last week with Cassius Z and a clear in 56.61 saw them take third. Following closely behind was Zaid Ali Raad and D’Extase Dh Z, crossing the line in 56.70, for fourth place. Jodie Creighton is proving very consistent and she added to her tally, as she took fifth with Smalltown Boy IV, when clear in 58.63.

Leading the victory lap in the John and Ailish Connolly Memorial CSI2* 1.30m Speed Table A was Shane Goggins. Riding Boleybawn Cayman, a clear in 54.82 saw him take the second international class of the day. Bred by Ronan Rothwell, the 14-year-old is by Cassidee and out of Ballybawn Riverto.

Zaid Ali Raad tried hard to catch the winner aboard B.E. Flygold, but their time of 55.23 proved only good enough for second. No strangers to the pressure of the clock, Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lights Out answered all the questions, but in a slower time of 58.50 for third. Little divided the next placing as Victoria Clarke and Cherry Candy Girl stopped the clock in 58.65 for fourth place. A clear from John McEntee and Rabdan Aeg in 59.64 saw them take fifth place, ahead of Lee Carey and Luxity, who also maintained a clean sheet in 61.01.

Michael Pender and HHS Orchidee, winners of the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier at Mullingar \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

Grand Prix qualifier

On Saturday afternoon, 82 combinations battled it out in the Derryglen, PRL, TUE, National Science Park CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier. From the original starters, 17 delivered clear rounds first time out, while six delivered double clears.

Following an exciting class, it was Kildare’s Michael Pender who came out on top as he partnered HHS Orchidee to a clear in 39.63. Bred by Bravo Hughes and owned by Molly Hughes Bravo, the 10-year-old mare is by Leo Roi out of a mare by Luidam. Sean Monaghan came closest to catching Pender with the Sue Davis-owned Cicero-sired 10-year-old, Chef Of Flanders Fields Z, but despite a great attempt, a clear in 40.57 saw him slot into second place.

Susan Fitzpatrick was looking to add to her Mullingar record. Riding the Isabell De Melo and Rosemary Farm-owned stallion, Hector de Kezeg, she wasted no time, but a clear in 40.70 saw them take third. Wexford’s Lauren Adams was back in the ribbons, taking fourth with Caddie Z with a clear in 40.93.

Nicola Fitzgibbon’s calculated riding aboard the nine-year-old Luidam gelding, Gracefield Apollo saw them come home with nothing to add in 42.43 for fifth. Last of the double clears and taking sixth place was Robert Splaine aboard Sandra Devine’s 10-year-old gelding, Laranco in 43.04.

Lt Raphael Lee recorded his second win of the show, when he partnered Derrycush to a clear in the AB Horseboxes 1.35m Two-Phase Special in a time of 26.16. A big field lined out for the first class of the day on Sunday, with 88 going to post and 36 delivering clears. All the clears came home within 39 seconds, indicating just how competitive the class was. It was a close call between first and second, as Max O’Reilly Hyland and BP Limitless, clocked 26.58. Sven Hadley also featured in this line-up, taking third with Elka de La Pomme in a time of 26.61.

Taking a break from his eventing duties, Cathal Daniels and Satelittenflieger K took fourth, clocking 26.74. Harry Wood was back in the ribbons, taking fifth with Luisa, coming home in 27.54. Shane O’Reilly also collected in this class, taking sixth with Lancer Luck, stopping the clock in 28.17.