IN the 1.20m section of the Gain Alltech Autumn Series, held during the Mullingar Autumn Championships at Mullingar Equestrian Centre last Saturday, even more excitement and drama unfolded, with less than a second separating the top 10 combinations. It was Alannah O’Donoghue with her father Patrick’s Fairy Fort who took the win in an electric 27.73.

Alannah told The Irish Field: “I’m delighted to win the opening 1.20m leg of the Gain Alltech series. We have Fairy Fort for over four years now and he has been brilliant, he has given me many wins up to 1.30m and we have also competed [in] some 1.35m classes together. We won a leg of the series last year in Cavan and we travelled from Tipperary to Mullingar for this one class, so it was worth the trip.

“I’m never at a show without Dad and rarely without Mum. They have been a massive support to me and my horses. Dad is the main man behind everything, from looking after Fairy Fort at home to helping me at shows and warming me up.”

Prolific Amateur riders completed the podium places, with Vicky Curran on RNH Coco Chanel taking second in 27.90 and Lisa Doyle on the dependable Ballinaguilkey Dignified coming third in 28.03.

Speaking to The Irish Field afterwards, Curran said: “Coco is a 10-year-old mare by Celtic Hero B Z and, in our two years together, we have built a special bond and trust, which is a huge part of our success - she is happiest when she is jumping.”

Sven Hadley with D‘Extase DH Z had a very fast clear in 28.08 to take fourth place, with Leinster junior rider Lucy McCarthy partnering Maggiemae C and Waterford woman Jenny Connors teaming up with Fiona Carew’s consistent 16-year-old gelding Fortnight to share fifth place, after they both broke the beam in the same time of 28.27.