THE Young Rider finals took place on Sunday and, as expected after competitive qualifiers, these classes went down to the wire. The €1,500 1.30m Grand Prix saw 20 combinations go to post and, from those, seven booked their place in the second round, where three delivered double clears.
Claiming this victory was Munster’s Kate Lynch and the six-year-old CCL Candy Balou, when they stopped the clock in 30.25. Fellow Munster rider, Sasha McDonnell and PLS Somers Knight was over four seconds slower in 34.80 for second. Last of the double clears came from Sam Widger and Dame De Montrose Z in 35.45. Max Doyle put in a very fast time with Keen Techno, coming home in 32.71, but a pole on the ground saw them take fourth. Josh Fitzgerald and Nala Of Heritage also had one on the ground, but in a slower time of 38.33 for fifth, ahead of Saoirse O’Neill and Shooting Star, on eight faults in 36.54.
McMahon speeds home
Leinster’s Elizabeth McMahon and the six-year-old Escape Too HSH took the win in the €1,000 1.20m Young Rider Grand Prix, when they were fastest of the seven double clears in the 13-way jump-off in a time of 30.49. She was chased home by Roisin Lucey and Caraghs Harley A Hector in 30.60, ahead of Roisin Cahill and Innislusky Jewel in 31.72. Fourth place belonged to Nadine Carey and Sacre Bleu, who clocked 31.76, while in fifth was Ella Duignan and Vamako Van Den Heuvel (five-year-old) in a time of 32.15. Rounding off the top six was Sasha McDonnell and Ballinagore Fire, with a time of 32.59.
In the 1.10m Young Rider Jump-off class, 28 went to post which resulted in an eight-way jump-off. Taking the win was Munster’s Dawn Ladd Finn, when she partnered MHS Peyton to a clear in 31.66. Niamh Fleming (AA) and Barleymounts Best secured second place, when they stopped the clock in 34.15, ahead of Yasmin Tanner and the five-year-old Quite A Star, in a time of 34.70. Slotting into fourth was Anna Duggan and Atlantic Mystery Dash, when they stopped the clock in 36.49, ahead of Edward Walsh and Diamante, who had one on the ground in 30.58. Yelena O’Keeffe was back in the ribbons taking sixth with the Paddy O’Donnell-owned Kilfarissey Krystal, carrying four faults in 33.58.
Weekend highlights
Action kicked off in the main indoor on Friday morning, with the 148cm 1m two-phase with 61 combinations going to post. Taking the win here was Yelena O’Keeffe aboard her father Billy’s five-year-old Glengarra Be Royal, with a clear in 30.21. Not content with the win, O’Keeffe also took third place with Bob Sweeney’s six-year-old Lammy Castana, with a clear in 33.01. Helen Walsh and Parkroe Harvey were second.
The Sheehan family were back in the ribbons with Rachel taking the win in the 148cm 1.15m GP Two-Phase with Ballynoe Lurgan Diamond with clear in 29.81. James Cleary and Napoli Hbz followed closely behind with a clear in 30.17. Jack Derwin took third with Rincoola Babog, with a clear in 30.86.
On Saturday, Jack Derwin took the win in the 148cm 1.20m class, when he was the fastest of 16 clears with Rincoola Babog in 58.20. Ronan Gilvarry and Romaround were back in the line-up, taking second when clear in 61.52, while Millie Jeffers and Sweet Renees Girl were third.
The 128cm 1m Two-Phase saw a win for Julia Sheehan and Heartbreaker Charlie, when they came home with nothing to add in 26.24. She was chased home by fellow Leinster rider, Jack Derwin and Deelside Dolly, clear in 26.82. Dylan Cregan and Pineview Bobby Boy took third, with a clear in 27.85.
Leading the victory lap in the 138cm 1.10m Two-Phase was Connaught’s Edward Walsh and Burnal Skipper, when they kept all the poles in place in 28.19. Rachel Sheehan returned to the line-up, to claim the runner-up spot with Cuffesgrange In It To Win It, with a clear in 28.91. Connaught rider Sarah Egan accounted for third with the six-year-old Dromore Hill Captain, with a clear in 30.49.
Winner of the 1.30m Young Rider Grand Prix on Saturday was Edward Walsh with Limited Edition, when he came home with nothing to add in 65.07. Walsh had also claimed the 1.10m Table A with Diamante.
A clear from Dan Geaney and Comilfo in 70.94 saw them take second, ahead of Jonathan O’Loughlin and SVS Ashford Zodiac, clear in 74.88. Fourth place belonged to Elizabeth McMahon and Escape Too HSH, clear in 75.24, ahead of Sam Widger and BP Lucky Clover, clear in 75.51. Max Doyle’s clear with Kee Techno in 76.46 saw them take sixth.