CIAN McMunn scored an impressive one-two when capturing the win and the runner-up prize in the 1.35m Grand Prix in Cavan last Sunday.

Fresh from his pony Nations Cup win in Sentower Park at the start of April, the 15-year-old is making his transition into the senior ranks a winning one, seeing off stiff competition from the 41-strong start list to capture the lion’s share of the €2,000 prize fund.

Riding his mother Breda’s Lisboy Emerald, an 11-year old gelding by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of Hollypark Lux Alright (Lux Z), who was bred by Michael McDonagh, the duo broke the finish beams in the only sub-40 time of 39.26 for the win.

McMunn also took second place aboard another one owned by his mother, the Belgian-bred stallion Oberon Van’t Lohof, by Eldorado Van De Zeshoek out of Ditto by Winningmood Van de Arenberg. They crossed the finish line in 42.07.

Third place went to Gary McIvor’s Jamboree VDL (Harley VDL x Corland), with Richard McIvor in the saddle, in 47.77. Another pony rider, Cathal McKeon-Devaney took fourth place aboard Kerrie Knipe’s Ardragh Cordubh (S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe x Cavalier Royale) in 49.31.

Harry Marshall and his own mare Tango E.T. (Cornet Obolensky x Laughton’s Flight) were fifth, while James Derwin and Pamela Shorthall’s Killerisk Can Ya (Can Ya Makan x Mermus R), bred by Maura Counihan, completed the line up in sixth place.

Great lad

Following Cian’s win, his father Cathal spoke to The Irish Field: “He is delighted with himself. We were at the ponies the day before in Hollypark and he won the 148cm Premier,” he said.

“He is still 15, he’s not 16 until August. He is a great lad. Because he is so tall, we started with the horses last year.

“James Kernan picked him to go to a few of the junior shows, so he’s been very lucky to get that experience while he is still in ponies. It has made the transition much smoother.

“We will do the 1.40m [young rider] at the last two Dublin qualifiers in Ard Chuain and in Barnadown, so we will be trying for that; we will also try and qualify for the 148cm Grade As for Dublin next Saturday in Cavan.

“After that, we are going away to Zuidwolde in Holland with the two horses and two ponies, and then Hagen two weeks after that with the ponies. So we have a lot of travelling to do.

“He has a lot on, because he is doing his Junior cert this year also. He will have horses all his life, but we think his education is important so he will finish that out definitely. My daughter Katie has just turned 13 so she is coming up behind him on the ponies. We will be kept busy!

“I think he made up the time on Saturday turning back to the third fence, and he made a lot of time up in the gallop to the last.

“He cut three seconds off his own time on his first horse Oberon Van’t Lohof who he finished second on, he knew he lost time on him going to the third fence, so he made it up on the next horse. He was third last to go and he was still leading, so he knew he had nothing to lose by going for it. I said to him ‘just crack on’ and it worked out.”

Murphy win

Sunday’s 1.30m two-phase was won by Cruiceraths Antonio, owned and ridden by Lauren Murphy. Bred by Jack Doyle, the gelding is by Siec Livello out of a mare by Urelle. The pair posted a second-round time of 31.97 to prove best of the 46 combinations on the start list, where just 16 managed to remain fault-free over both phases.

Samantha Kirk and her own mare FSS Indigo (Indoctro x Pacino), bred by Olive Clarke, took the runner-up spot crossing the finish in a time of 32.23. Louis Mellier and the Jones family’s seven-year-old Carrick Quidams Flake (Carrick Quidam De Revel x Carrrick Diamond Lad), bred by Barbra and Aishling Finnegan, slotted into third in 33.06.

Fourth went to Zara Finlay riding Brendan and Pauline Finlay’s Castlebridge Logan (Tolan R x Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve), bred by Sean Kavanagh, in 34.98.

Lucy Shanahan and her own seven-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Nooren T Dansa’s were fifth in 37.89, while James Derwin and Ballywalter Stables’ eight-year-old gelding Amos L Z (A Golden Boy Hero Z x Canturano Z) were sixth.

Judged equitation class

In a recent departure for Cavan, an American Working Hunter/Equitation-judged class was held on Saturday afternoon.

Judged by Jack Doyle, the class was held over a 90cm track and was won by Feaha Moore riding her own five-year-old gelding Cupid on a score of 106.

The runner-up spot went to Paul McDermott aboard Caroline Chambers’ four-year-old mare Teagans Trendy Lady (Livello x Luz Z), bred by Niamh Pender. They scored 105 points. Lucy McNeill and her own five-year-old mare Legacy 5 (Singulaer Della Caccia x Typhoon S), bred by John Black, were third on 102.

Fourth went to Callum Quinn’s four-year-old Swagger AB (Diamant De Semilly x Indoctro), bred by Niall Barrett and ridden by Dominic Curley to a score of 102. Jade Donnelly and her own BRL Prospero (Future Trend), bred by L.R. Bailey, was fifth on 101, while Jill Greene and Michael Culligan’s five-year-old Archie took sixth place on 100 points.