DESPITE the traffic disruptions, Mullingar Easter Horse Festival took place last weekend and attracted large entries across all classes.

The feature event, the penultimate round of the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour saw 55 combinations battle it out on the Sunday and taking the win was Lt Raphael Lee aboard Killossery Kilshane, when they posted a double clear in 43.03.

Bred by Frank and Laura Glynn, the 10-year-old mare is by Peppermill and out of the Cruising-sired dam, Killossery Kruisette. This combination are no strangers to this level of competition and, amongst their good results at home, was third in the Premier Performance National Grand Prix final at the Irish Breeders’ Classic.

Speaking after this latest win, Lt Raphael Lee said: “I am delighted with the win today as there was a very good standard in the class. We got Killossery Kilshane at the end of her four-year-old year and she has always demonstrated great talent. Captain David O’Brien campaigned the dam, Killossery Kruisette, at Grand Prix level with much success.”

He went on to thank TRM and the Showjumpers Club for their continued support of the series and to compliment Mullingar for all their hard work at the venue over the winter period.

The standard was high in the class, with eight delivering double clears and six being denied their place in the jump-off after having a single pole in the first round.

Lee was chased home by Shane Dalton and ESI Alexander, when they stopped the clock in a time of 43.31 seconds. Owned by Ennisnag Stud, this nine-year-old gelding is by Lamm De Fatan and is out of the Tygo-sired dam, Adelheid. This combination also finished fifth in the round at Tipperary.

Leitrim rider John Mulligan and Lough Scur Quality Lady slotted into third with a clear in 44.34. Owned and bred by her owner, Seamus Tighe, the 12-year-old mare is by OBOS Quality 004 and is out of the Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan-sired dam, Lough Scur Sardiamond. The mare was campaigned by Comdt Geoff Curran in 2024, and they competed in Europe up to 1.50m level. In Maubeuge CSI3*, they finished sixth in the Table A 1.50m.

Accounting for eventual fourth was Robert Splaine and the Sandra Devine-owned Laranco, when they came home in 44.40. This 10-year-old gelding is by Bustique and is out of the Garanco-sired dam, Aranca. This combination finished fifth in the round in Cavan in March.

A clear from Dermott Lennon and Kinmar Right on Time in 44.54 saw them take fifth. Lennon has returned from Vejer de La Frontera where this partnership was in action in the 1.45m classes. The horse was bred by Gerry Marron, who owns the nine-year-old mare with Lennon. She is by Aganix Di Seigneur and is out of the Unk-sired dam, Kinmar Dancing Queen.

Rounding off the top six was Darragh Ryan aboard his own nine-year-old gelding, As You Want Z, coming home in 44.71. The Zangersheide gelding is by Atomic D’Ick and is out of the Calvaro-sired dam Sweet De Tourtoulou.

As we head into the final round of the series in Coilog this weekend, it’s all still to play for. Sven Hadley has a commanding lead of 42 points with Maximum Numero Too HSH, Daisy McNamara and Caspetito Z are in second place on 32 points. In third place is Eoghan Fahy and Origi Van De Bandam on 30 points.

1.25m inc Hibernia League

It was a good day for Connaught rider John Mulligan, as he took the win in the 1.25m class. Riding Bernard Reynolds’ Kathleens Candy Clover, they were the fastest of 31 clears in a time of 25.77. There was fierce competition in this class with 81 combinations battling it out.

Fellow Connaught rider Sven Hadley took second place with John Deegan’s Machnus Lux, stopping the clock in 26.84. Young Rider, Aidan O’Brien and the eight-year-old Annyalla Romeo took third, after galloping home in 26.98. Accounting for fourth was Shane Treanor and Captain Blue TSZ in 27.62, ahead of Aidan Killeen aboard his own Comme Luna D’o Z (8yo), in 27.85. Completing the top six was junior rider, Honor Daly and Neffect S, clear in 28.65.

1.15m inc 6yo Hibernia League

Leading the victory lap in the 1.15m class was Shane Treanor aboard Sean Jordan’s six-year-old, SJ Cornet Og, with a clear in 31.16.

He was chased home by Connaught young rider, Katie Nallon, who lodged a clear with both Aganix Summer Tokyo Drift (7yo), and with her mother Sandra’s six-year-old, Bouncers Hero, in 31.44 to share second. Little divided the next placing, as Lucy Gaffney and World of Orestus crossed the line, clear in 31.77 for fourth place.

A clear in 33.04 for Anna Carway and Baskin Sunny Diamond in 33.04 saw them secure fifth, ahead of Charlotte McCracken and Mallbeck, clear in 33.27.

1.05m incl 5yo Hibernia League

Young rider Fia Penny Taylor rode to victory in the 1.05m class, when she delivered a clear with Ballygriffin Autonomous in a time of 32.50. Fellow young rider, Sarah Flemming and Hes A Steel opted for the safer lines, delivering a clear in 35.14 for second. Young rider Katie Tobin and Simply Casanova came home with nothing to add in 36.27 for third, ahead of young rider Beth Kirkpatric and Wrenwood Ophelia, clear in 36.50. Slotting into fifth was Shannon Treanor and the five-year-old Premier Handsome Boy, clear in 38.27, while in sixth was junior rider James Cleary and What’s the Big Deal, clear in 38.63.