THE Killossery club ran last Sunday’s fourth round of the North Eastern Region’s Equipet league and were rewarded for their efforts when the first two classes at Killossery Lodge Stud fell to members Brian Cassidy and Jacqui Boland.

The latter has won all four advanced intermediate competitions this season with her nine-year-old skewbald gelding Maverick Na Ri and, in 25.17 here, easily fended off the bid of Castle Leslie’s Rebecca Brown with Spirit And Style (27.83).

Boland, who looks likely to repeat her victory in last year’s league, had planned to upgrade for this season’s series but very nearly lost Maverick Na Ri in September when he was diagnosed with sycamore poisoning. “He was very, very ill but came through it all okay and is actually a lot stronger this year,” said the rider who is based near the Hill Of Tara.

“Maverick wasn’t broken until he was six after which I got him. At that stage all I’d ever really done was hunting but I love the jumping now and it’s all thanks to John Floody with whom I’ve been training for the past two years; he has been fantastic.

“I won the AI national championships last year in Mullingar on Maverick who was third to my other horse, Mirdads Hi-Zoom, in the Masters final. I also compete as an ‘A’ rider in SJI amateur classes with both. I’ll do the remaining three legs of the Equipet league and just hope that I won’t be caught!” concluded Boland who works full-time with horses.

Killossery secretary Susan Cusack was delighted to see her clubmate win but even more so with the effort put in to running the day by members. “The club is going from strength to strength,” she added.

Cassidy’s success came in the six-runner open where, last to go, he partnered Louis to a second round clear in 26.06 ahead of Cheval’s Philip Hannigan riding Yukon Flush (27.10).

Hannigan’s mother Sandra, who also competes for Cheval, recorded a very decisive victory in the intermediate section where 18 starters came before judge for the day, Christine Walsh.

On board her 11-year-old Connemara mare Camus Ramble, Hannigan stopped the clock on 25.49 with her nearest challenger, Mullaghmore’s Caroline Tierney, coming home in 28.25 on Vanir Molly Malone. Camus Ramble is a 10-year-old Tulira Robuck bay who was bred in Kinvara by Maura Reaney out of a Moy Hazy Cove mare.

Cheval doubled up in the six-runner Inter A through Triona McGrath and her 23-year-old bay gelding Apollo Fifteen.

Once again, the advanced primary section attracted a large entry of 24 combinations of whom 13 recorded doubles clears.

Closest to the optimum time of 63 seconds was Drynam’s Alan Fitzpatrick who was just slightly over in 63.57 with the Irish Draught gelding Drynam Rivie, an eight-year-old son of Sir Rivie.

The Mullaghmore club picked up another second place ribbon here through Marese McCarra and Cecil (62.34) and also in the primary division thanks to Fiona McCarra and Dava Girl (66.85). Winner of this seven-strong class in 64.07 was Ashbrook’s Louise Fellowes and the 21-year-old skewbald gelding Fairyhouse Raindance.

The Castle Leslie club had to settle for just one victory on Sunday, Samantha Johns landing the Inter B with her five-year-old Drumhowan Darlin Jazz, another skewbald.

Tomorrow, the Equipet league moves up to Co Monaghan where the Border Counties club is hosting the fifth round at Cloncaw Equestrian.

After that, the series moves on to Kilronan EC (Sunday, March 1st) with the final taking place a week later at Castle Leslie.