MARYVILLE proved to be a happy outing for Waterford rider Gemma Phelan last Sunday as she recorded her first win in the 2018 TRM/Horse Sport Ireland New Heights Champion Series. Riding GRC Acapella, Phelan was the fastest of only two double clears in the class.

Bred and owned by Rory Costigan, the eight-year-old gelding is by Luidam and out of the Aldato-sired Ballydoolagh Amiee Sunrise. This home-bred is proving to be one to watch, having claimed fourth in the round in Tattersalls, third in the SJI National Grand Prix in Coilog and fifth in the opening round in the SJI National Grand Prix at The Meadows Equestrian Centre.

Delighted with the win, Gemma Phelan said: “I am so pleased with the horse today as he hasn’t that much experience. He only started jumping as a six-year-old. He is a very determined horse and really wants to do his job well. He is learning all the time. He has quite a big balanced stride and a good rhythm, so he takes to the challenge very well. The sire Luidam passes down these great traits, along with an easy-going temperament.”

Regarding the owner of the horse, Phelan added: “I am delighted for Rory Costigan as he invests a lot into breeding and producing these horses. I campaigned another horse for him, Loughnavatta Indigo, and he went on to be sold to Jonathan Corrigan in America. A nine-year-old, he is also by Luidam out of Loughnavatta Sabrina and is now jumping at CSI3* level.”

In total 23 went to post in this round and with 25% contesting the second round, six went through to battle it out for the €10,000 fund.

Of those six combinations, five had maintained clean sheets in the first round and Joan Greene and CSF Vinze had incurred just a single time fault.

The Tom Holden-designed course was very fitting for the level of competition, with the fences up to standard. In the second round, although it was technical, riders had opportunities to make up time in turns backs.

COMPETITIVE ACTION

First to go, Joan Greene and CSF Vinze proved out of luck when they added four faults to their first-round score, when faulting at the second part of the double. Finishing on a total of five faults in a time of 51.39 seconds, this later proved good enough for fifth. Bred by Patrick Connolly in Galway and owned by Tim O’Shea, the nine-year-old gelding is also by Luidam and he is out of the Cruising-sired dam, CSF Telly Cruise. This combination had also claimed sixth place in the SJI National Grand Prix at JAG Equestrian.

Galway native Jessica Burke and Express Trend (ISH) set the bar high, when they delivered the first double clear in 49.43, to put it up to the rest. Bred and owned by Clare’s Liam Nicholas, the gelding is an eight-year-old by Future Trend out of the Condios-sired mare, Condios Express. This partnership has been in form of late, winning the SJI National Grand Prix at Coilog.

Burke has produced the gelding from the off and has had much success in the aged class and the ISH Studbook Series. Last year, the combination were part of the Irish Squad that travelled to the Young Horse World Championships at Lanaken.

Next up, Dermott Lennon riding MJM Pursuit saw their hopes of a win dashed when they faulted at the Horseware oxer at fence three. But a series of tight turns saw him stop the clock in 43.12 seconds.

Gemma Phelan knew what she needed to do as she took to the course with GRC Acapella. A steady calculated pace matched with a series of good turns saw her deliver the winning clear in 43.68, and in the process demoted Burke into second.

Madeline Roberts Allen went into the second round aboard Daroento Vdl (KWPN) on zero penalties, but eight faults in the second round in a time of 62.50, meant a sixth-place finish for her.

Darragh Ryan and Rincoola Rua delivered a clear first time out, four faults at the second vertical in the same time as Lennon, meant they shared third place.

Delighted with how the three-day show went, organiser Alan Molan said: “This was our first time to hold a New Heights Champion Series and it went very well. I would like to thank the riders, who really co-operated in getting the class started on time. A special thanks to all the stewards and the arena party, who play such an important role. Lastly to Tom Holden who just got it right on the day and made it a very exciting class to watch.”