THE National Balmoral Championships proved to be a popular outing on the calendar with a host of classes from amateur right up to the Premier Series. With generous prize money on offer, all classes were well supported with top names battling it out over a series of exciting classes and championships.
1.30m/1.35m championship
On Sunday, young rider Cara McFadden and Orville Jack claimed victory in the Bingham Farms sponsored 1.30m championship. Riding the eight-year-old Orville Jack, she was fastest of just seven double clears in 40.08. Junior rider Arielle Allen and Kandice Z took the runner-up spot, when they came home in 41.58. Darragh Ryan put in a great attempt, but his time of 42.05 with Millie Mf proved only good enough for third. Niamh McEvoy and Keith Ennis’ Rosconnell Tango accounted for fourth, when they stopped the clock in 43.96 seconds. Fifth place belonged to Adam Carey and Helen Enright’s Julius, when they came home in 45.25, while completing the top six line-up was Jessica Burke and Billy Fern, in a time of 48.09.
On Saturday afternoon, 83 combinations lined out for the €3,000 Muldoon sponsored 1.35m championship. With riders up for the challenge, 21 delivered clears. Winners of the 1.35m Karlswood Leinster Summer class in Inistioge the week before, Harry Wood and the Lisa Cawley- owned eight-year-old Luisa (Luidam) collected another win, when they posted the fastest time of 63.02.
Robert Splaine was almost four seconds behind with Coolcorron Lachlan in 66.54 for second. Shane O’ Reilly took third with Lancer Luck, in a time of 66.54, while in fourth was Aidan O’ Brien and Annyalla Romeo in a time of 66.83. Max O’ Reilly Hyland was less than a second behind with his own Bp Limitless, in 67.26 for fifth, ahead of Cathal Daniels and Like a Star in 67.52.
1.20m championship
The 1.20m championship saw a win for Shane O’Reilly and the Brian McConville-owned Bwe Vain Hero when they came home clear in 21.55. There was another big turnout for the £1,000 Abbey Upholsterers-sponsored class, with 91 going to post and 35 delivering double clears. Danni Jennings and Super Star took the runner-up spot, coming home in 23.25, while in third was Jodie Creighton and Arkle Denvor, in 24.16. Cathal Daniels accounted for third with the Sandra Duffy-owned six-year-old Little Looker coming home in 24.37.
Less than a second separated the next placing as Seamus Hughes Kennedy and the seven-year-old HK Gadora came home in 24.87, while in sixth was Rebecca McGoldrick and Kinmar Come Fly With Me in 25.24.
On Friday, the Loan Eden Caravan Park 1.10m championship (inc CHO) saw 78 combinations go to post and from those 38 delivered double clears. Taking the win was April McCrea and Bob, when they stopped the clock in 22.61 seconds. Less than a second behind was Eve Hedderman and Gomina, in 23.15, ahead of Emma Jackson and Kylestone Cashel in 23.69. Danni Jennings and Super Star took fourth when they came home in 24.21. The leading Children on Horses rider and taking fifth was Pippa Moore and GSS Mircino, in 24.23. Junior rider Lily Beatty accounted for sixth when she partnered Sivanna R home in a time of 24.78 for sixth.
Five-year-old championship
Jason Foley took the win in the five-year-old championship aboard Castlefield Paris, putting in a brilliant roundin 3 7.43 and claiming the winner’s share of the £1,500 on offer. Owned and bred by Castlefield Breeding Farm, the mare is by Castlefield Kingston and is out of the Air Jordan-sired dam, Acapella Van Overis Z. This combination has clocked up a series of strong results in the DAFM classes and took the honours in the Dublin Horse Show qualifier in Barnadown.
Megan McGettigan and the Kenneth Graham-owned Lenamore Air Display kept the poles in place, albeit in a slower time of 39.40 for second. McGettigan also took sixth with another of Kenneth Graham’s homebreds, Lenamore Verdiana, when last of the double clears in 44.03. This mare is well-related by Verdi and out of the Hermes De Reve-sired dam, Rocket Ball.
Another homebred to be proud of, this mare is by Echonix and is out of the Aldato-sired dam Lenamore Bella Donna. Third place belonged to young rider Jill Greene aboard the Niall Noonan-sired dam Chipp Hero when clear in 39.65. Bred by William Boland, the gelding is by Lagans OBOS Quality and is out of the Chippison-sired dam, Royale Chipp.
Michael Roche took fourth with the homebred Drumragh Cardano, going clear in 39.76. This gelding is by Candy De Nantuel and is out of the ARS Vivendi-sired dam Royal Vivendi. Molly Hughes Bravo took fifth with the hombred HHS Lugano with a clear in 41.01. This gelding is by Lucky Luck and is out of the Vigaro-sired dam MHS Twenty.