CAVAN Equestrian has always proved to be a happy hunting ground for John Floody and he took the honours in the 1.35m Grand Prix last Sunday at their August Horse Show. Riding HTS Blackrock, Floody took the win ahead of Kelda Morgan on William Lapsley’s Orbiting.

Bred by his owner, Brian Kiernan of Heynestown Stud in Dundalk, HTS Blackrock is an 11-year-old stallion by Rhyne Clover out of the Diamond Chin mare Marilyn D Chin. HTS Blackrock has three offspring registered, two of which were bred by Kiernan: HTS Black Willow and HTS Redrock. Peter Barnwall has also one foal on the ground by the stallion which is out of Nethercross Tally.

Last year this combination ended the season on a good note when claiming the win in the Allianz Grand Prix in Wexford Equestrian and second in the Allianz Grand Prix in Portmore Winter Championships.

Nano Healy put in a solid performance to take third with KMS Clintland, ahead of Charlene Clingan and Ardtana Flash Forward. Philip Gaw took fifth place with Ardnacashel Coovella, while sixth belonged to Caitlin Taggart and Glenannagh Beach.

Last Saturday, Simon Scott and Jasmine Tide led the victory lap in the 1.35m Grand Prix. Scott was chased home by Sven Hadley and Ganorad in second. Peter Smyth put in a solid round with John Fee’s Des Le Debut for third, ahead of Robert Harrison and Lil Wayne. Shannon Robinson partnered Chardonnay into fifth, while Nathan Primrose and UNIEK I Z completed the top six.

Winner of the 1.10m championship was Lee Carey and Kan Cruise, ahead of Nicholas Canavan’s Clover Falcon. Third place belonged to Antoinette Burns and Castlelawn Splendid. Sean Kavanagh partnered Joe Bulger’s Carrighill Elmo into fourth, ahead of Charlie Flanagan and Ballyfore Lola. Completing the top-six line-up was Aisling McGreal, riding Harold McGahern’s Rincoola Tintean.

Hadley Sport Horses are certainly proving to be real contenders on the national circuit and they showed their strengths as Tori Dunne partnered Hadley Sport Horses’ Why Not Fado to a win in the 1.20m Championship. Dunne was chased home by Rory Lavery and Glenkeeran Carsonstown.

Aisling McGreal was back in the line-up, taking third with Harold McGahern’s Rincoola Tintean. Nicholas Canavan picked up another place, when slotting into fourth with Captains Command, ahead of Aoife Healion and Patrick Kirwan’s Sligo Balou. Sixth place belonged to Deane Rogan riding Declan Mcgarry’s De L’Oiseliere.

In the 1.30m Championship (including six and seven-year-old Hankook Cavan Classic Qualifier), it was Sven Hadley and Vvood Stock De Breve who took the honors. This combination enjoyed a host of wins at Millstreet International Show. Resident rider Mervyn Clarke took the runner-up spot with Thomascourt BGS, ahead of Declan McEvoy and BLM Cosmopolitan Dandy. Jake HUnter accounted for the next two placings. Riding Sandra Duffy’s Donoghue Doctor, he took fourth, and fifth when riding Johnathan McDonnell’s Over Lux. Accounting for sixth place was Cornelius Brennan, riding Joe McKay’s Little Smithe.

Claiming the win in the 90cm Championship were Emily Hill and Holly Balloo (Emily Hill), ahead of Paula Briody and Laurelhill Lilabelle. Slotting into third were David Gibson and Ashfield Red Ginger.

The 1m Championship went down to the wire, but in the end, it was Tatianna Ormiston who claimed the win with Bobbie Carolan. Claiming the runner-up spot was Robert Murdy aboard Fiona Monaghan’s Cobras Cailin. Third place belonged to Andrew Rafferty riding Rubis Du Bisson.

Louise Craig’s Sarco emerged victorious in the 1.10m Championship Section B, ahead of Chloe Higgins, riding Kingsborough Jasper (Chloe Goggins). Taking third place was Aidan Loftus aboard Frances Horgan’s Kingship Courcel.

The four-year-old final last Sunday, saw quality youngsters being put through their paces. Dean Rogan was back in the ribbons, claiming the four-year-old final with Orphus DV. Owned by Declan McGarry’s Orphus DV is by Dayton Sitte out of the Casero-sired dam, Casera. Claiming the runner-up spot was Edward Little riding Carnlea Premier (Crown Z x Armagh).

Third place went to Conor McEneaney riding Shanroe Peeters (Dallas VDL x Shanroe Sapphire). Edward Little was back in the ribbons, claiming fourth with Carnlea Bella (Van Gogh x High Offley Miss Arko). Darren Irwin and Trebra Premier Douglas claimed fifth (Hold Up Premier x Trebra Frances Girl), ahead of George Newton and his own Simply Grey (Ard Golden Crisp x Simply Jaffa).