ON Sunday at the Millstreet Autumn Horse Show, the finals took centre stage, commencing with the €1,000 Boomerang.ie 1m class in the indoor arena.
In total, 48 went to post and, from those, just 16 delivered clears. Taking the win was Liam O’Meara aboard the Willie O’Dea-owned seven-year-old Canadian K, stopping the clock in 47.76 seconds. O’Meara’s closest rival was amateur rider Edel Kelly (AA) and Agustina, who stopped the clock in 50.02.
Third place belonged to Leinster Junior rider Molly Sharkey and the six-year-old Ballyheerin Bliss, who was a split second behind in 50.62. Amateur rider Aoileann Nic An Iomaire (AA) and Kingsday Eurohill accounted for fourth when they came home in 50.94, while in fifth was Christopher Corcoran and Pourva in 52.88.
Sixth place was occupied by Timmy Doyle, who partnered the Barra Sweetnam-owned five-year-old Ravensdale Usin Baloutov to a clear in 57.22.
The €1,000 Connolly’s Red Mills 1.10m Horse Final (Table A) proved equally as competitive, with 67 going to post, and the top nine finishers came home clear and within 50 seconds. Leading this victory lap was Munster’s Kate Lynch, when she partnered her own five-year-old CCL Conticco Delight to a clear in 42.88.
Amateur rider Lorraine Younge (AA) came close to catching the winner, but their time of 43.88 proved only good enough for second. Fellow amateur rider Karen Broderick (AA) and Earl Greys Last Cruise took third, stopping the clock in 45.49. A clear from Emma Walsh (AA) and Carrow Cornet in 46.04 saw them take fourth, ahead of junior rider Mark Neilan and the five-year-old Jacks Harper, who secured fifth when they clocked 47.38.
Amateur rider Niamh Flemming (AA) and Barleymounts Best completed the top six, coming home in 48.81.
Nallon on top
The €1,000 Stoneville Stables 1.20m Horse Final (Table A) again attracted a good entry, with 57 battling it out.
Leading this victory lap for the Connaught region was young rider Katie Nallon. Riding her mother Sandra’s six-year-old Bouncers Hero, she delivered a clear in 47.84.
Alice Moloney was hot on the winner’s heels with the Michael Brennan and Tom Moloney-owned MHS Jolene, with a clear in 48.12 for second. Little divided the next placing, as Patrick Doyle and Longhill Cruising came home with nothing to add in 49.50.
Fourth place belonged to Andrew Ryan with his own Cazanna, when they came home with nothing to add in 50.03 There was nothing between the next placings as young rider Kate Lynch and the five-year-old CCL Midnight Lady delivered a foot-perfect round in 50.20. Just fractions of a second behind was Brendan Murphy and the six-year-old CBI Chamano, who kept all the poles standing in 50.27.