AIDAN Killeen won Sunday’s feature class, the €3,000 Showjumping Ireland 1.40m Grand Prix, at the Cavan four-day Christmas Festival last weekend.

Riders, officials and the Cavan team were wearing white ribbons as a mark of respect for the late Harriet Penfold at the show. There was a tribute paid to Harriet on the public address system across the whole complex before the Irish Garage Equipment 1.35m Grand Prix on Saturday evening with all present observing a one-minute silence in her memory. On Sunday afternoon, before the SJI 1.40m Grand Prix class, there was also an acknowledgement of the passing of Mrs Maureen Duggan and John Mulvey with all present once again observing a one-minute silence in their memory.

Stuart Clarke designed the track for Sunday’s Grand Prix where a dozen of the contenders posted a clear first round to progress to the jump-off. Two of the 12, Katie Nallon with Tara Brandon and Gabriel Slattery Jnr’s CW Luiboutain (Luidam x Captain Clover) and Alexandra Kiernan with Arlene Nee’s Belgian-bred mare Preach V/D Wezelse Heihoeve (Nabab De Reve x Zirocco Blue Vdl) decided to withdraw from the decider, which meant just 10 lined out against the clock.

In the end, it was the second pair to go, Aidan Killeen riding Prime Equipment Ltd’s Inlaws Orinoco (Harlequin Du Carel x Oklund), bred by Michael Byrne, who posted the winning round, stopping the clock at 35.48 to claim first place.

The runner-up spot went to Daren Hopkins aboard Aloga Stable’s seven-year-old Belgian-bred gelding Balmain D’Grandin Z (Balou Star x Colman). They recorded a time of 35.57.

Hopkins also claimed third place riding another from the Aloga Stables, the Susan Keaveney-bred stallion PMH Spencer (Cornet Obolensky x Berlin) in 35.58. John McEntee and Greenvale Transport’s Dutch-bred gelding Hobalo (Bubalu Vdl x Ukato) was guided into fourth place by Emma McEntee in 36.80.

Lee Carey and Sandra Duffy’s Annaghmore Beach Cruise (Beach Ball x Cruising) finished fifth as the fastest four-faulters in a very fast time of 34.00. Veteran campaigner Robert Splaine, riding Sandra Devine’s Dutch-bred gelding Laranco (Bustique x Garanco), was sixth.

1.30m winner

Junior rider Lucy McCarthy rode Barbara Hargaden’s Dutch-bred gelding Geron Rs (Vigo D’Arsouilles x Germus R) to win the 1.30m two-phase on Sunday. The duo recorded a second-round time of 27.98, almost a second faster than their closest rivals. Jennifer Burke and Liam Clancy’s Corraghoe Steel (Mermus R x Cruising), bred by Patrick Smith, were runners-up, stopping the clock at 28.81. Charles O’Reilly Hyland’s Rock Contessa (Rock Sensation x Deltic) was ridden into third by Keila Glynn in 29.58.

Matilde Baaring Kjaergaard rode the Belgian-bred Papin De Kalvarie (Gemini x Darco), owned by Sandra Duffy, into fourth in 31.71, while Darryl Walker and William Kennedy’s seven-year-old home-bred mare KEC Klassique (Obos Quality 004 x Aldatus Z) took fifth.

Sixth place went to Niamh Devlin, riding her father Maurice’s Bravo/Hughes bred gelding HHS Toronto (Cavalier Royale x Don Juan De La Bouverie).