ON Sunday, young riders in the 1.35/1.40m category were first into the Aloga International arena at Mulingar. As expected, the standard was high and, as a result, so were the expectations and they faced a technical course. A total of 54 went to post and, from those, just three triple clears were delivered in the 10-way jump-off. A total of four tickets were up for grabs.

Taking the win was Connaught’s Cian McMunn with Oberon Van’t Lohof, when they came home clear in 42.08. Alex O’Connor was the only other triple clear with Carreras 12, in a time of 43.35. Harrison Blair put in a very fast time with L’Esprit Hero Z, clocking 35.40, but with a pole on the ground, this combination had to settle for third place.

Resident rider Alanna Fagan took the last ticket when she had one down with Billy Hastings in 38.80 for eventual fourth. Alex Wachman and Berlux also came home with one on the ground, but in 40.49 for fifth, ahead of Billy Sinnott and Macgyver, who came home on eight faults in 35.66.

1.25/1.30m

There was a big entry for the 1.25/1.30 m class, with 122 combinations battling it out for the five places on offer. From the original starters, five booked their place in the second round and, as a result, they opted not to contest a third round. Fastest of those in the second round was Connie McFadden and Domar Van De Neerheide in a time of 35.11. Taking the runner-up spot was Siobhan Doyle and Dante Dv Z, in 36 seconds. Third place was filled by Emily Halford and Herle, in a time of 36.15. It was a good day for the McFadden family as Cara and Orville Jack took fourth when clocking 36.37, ahead of Emily Moloney and Clovalent, in 36.97. Oisin Anderson and Pearl were denied their place in the third round, when they incurred a single time fault and took sixth place.

1.10/ 1.15m

The 1.10/1.15m class had five tickets up for grabs, with 98 going to post. Claiming the golden ticket was Kristin O’Sullivan, when fastest of the triple clears in 37.21. Isabelle Boland and Boleybawn Reverie claimed the runner-up spot when they kept all the poles in place in 37.26. Caoimhe Treacy and Hz Dido took third, with a clear in 38.92, while in fourth was Amber English and Castlebridge Super Nova, clear in 39.38. Karl Thompson and Rosco Alienne accounted for fifth with a clear in 42.45, while in sixth was Aoife Leahy and DPS Dynamic, clear in 42.71.

Children on Horses.

A total of 29 combinations lined out for just four tickets on offer in this section. Claiming the first ticket was Connaught’s Edward Walsh and Diamante, when they were fastest of the triple clears in 37.27. Charlotte Foley and Cillbhrid Excel took second when they came home clear in 37.89, ahead of Colm Widger and Jerenice Dysenbeeck Z in 39.61. A clear in 39.68 for Blathnaid Murphy and Godiva Quality in 39.68 saw them take fourth. Fresh from qualifying the day before in the pony ranks, Ben O’Connor took fifth place with Catoka, clear in 40.84 and sixth with Katy Perry Therma Wm, clear in 40.91.