HHS Clinstown and Lt Michaeli Byrne claimed victory in a competitive Mervue 1.35m which saw 66 go to post on Sunday morning at the Tattersalls July Show.

Bred by the legendary Ita Brennan, the 14-year-old gelding is by OBOS Quality 004 out of MHS Kilkenny Lady (Cavalier Royale) and has been with the Army Equitation School since he was six years old.

Just 21 of the original start list managed to produce a first-round clear and 13 of these remained fault-free in the second. Lt Byrne was the fastest of these crossing the finish in 31.67 for the top spot and the lion’s share of the €4,000 prize.

Ballypatrick Stables rider Leah Stack and GBBS Int Ltd’s mare Imcarthina took second place in 31.75, while Jonathan Smyth riding Ann Doherty’s home-bred Crystal Graf (Lux Z x Graf Magna) finished third in 32.13. Stack slotted into fourth aboard her other mount, the eight-year-old home-bred BP Tiny Dancer (Plot Blue x Concorde) in 32.47.

Fifth place went to Darragh Ryan and his own eight-year-old Belgian-bred As You Want Z in 32.61. Ryan also took sixth place aboard Matilda Walsh’s Millie Mf (Guidam Junior x Contender), bred by Kedrah House Stud Ltd.

High jump

JP Meegan and his own home-bred stallion Pacino Endor (Pacino x White Clover) won the 1.45m high jump on Saturday evening in Tattersalls after clearing all five rounds of the competition.

This win, combined with a second place at the equivalent class at the Flavours of Fingal a few weeks earlier, meant that the pair were awarded the €1,500 bonus as the combination which jumped the highest combined height at both shows.

Young rider Oisin Magee matched Meegan’s five clear rounds with his own gelding Landslide Aw to divide first place.

Sponsored by Mick Flynn and the Ward Union Hunt, the class took place on Saturday evening and proved to be a crowd pleaser, with a drinks reception with finger food sponsored by Douglas Taylor running alongside the competition.