CAVAN Equestrian Centre welcomed riders last week for its four-day October Autumn Young Rider and Grand Prix Show, where competitors battled it out for top honours in a series of competitive classes.

On Sunday afternoon, 72 combinations lined out for the €3,000 1.40m Bucas Grand Prix. This victory remained at home as resident rider Camryn Clarke led the lap of honour with Conto De Reve. This is the second recent Grand Prix win for the combination who won the Gain Alltech Autumn Grand Prix in Garranemore at the start of October and, before this, the Karlswood Indoor Derby at Cavan. The 13-year-old gelding, who was bred by Noleen Kieran, is by Hermes De Reve and is out of the Conto-sired dam, Odessa.

Speaking afterwards, Clarke said: “It’s always great to win on home soil and it’s never an easy victory, as you have the top riders on the start list. I went towards the end of the jump-off, so I got to see a few go ahead of me. The horse is naturally fast and he has been very consistent [for] the last while. He is a horse that I can really trust and, thankfully, it paid off.

"The plan is to stay in Ireland for the remainder of the year and take in a few Grands Prix here.”

Split seconds

It was a very close class, with 18 of the original starters booking their places in the timed round and, from those, 11 delivered double clears. Apart from the winner’s time of 31.49 seconds, there were only split seconds separating those remaining combinations in the top six.

Winner of the Grand Prix at Glenamaddy Equestrian with Annaghmore Beach Cruise, Cathal Daniels put it up to the rest when he delivered a clear with Magnifique, but his time of 33.38 would see him take second place.

Owned by Sandra Duffy, Magnifique is a 10-year-old by Numero Uno and out of the Voltaire-sired dam, Zafnalita. This combination had won the earlier 1.35m class.

Junior rider Ruby Lily Gaines and Royal Cornet MRO came close to catching Daniels, but her time of 33.51 would see her settle for third place. Royal Cornet is a 10-year-old gelding by Cornet’s Prinz and out of the Corlando I-sired dam, Cosma. The young Leinster rider was clearly on form, also taking sixth with Emil 160, with a clear in 34.69. Emil 160 is a 12-year-old gelding by El Salvador and is out of the Aloube Z-sired dam, Aluta.

Fellow Junior rider Cian McMunn and Bellevue Celestial took fourth when they stopped the clock in 33.63. This combination had previously claimed third in the Grand Prix in Cavan at the September show. Bred by Ruth Loney, the 12-year-old is by Luidam and out of Bellevue Bird of Paradise.

Niamh O’Connor Barry and Drumiller Vegas also posted a fast time, coming home in 34.69 for fifth place. This 12-year-old gelding is by Cardento and is out of the Rockhill Clover-sired Meabhs Clover.