KERNAN EC hosted its first outdoor show of the season last Saturday in the form of a qualifier for the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) Balmoral.

The amateur qualifier attracted a field of 51 competitors kicked and of the 21 combinations who made it throught to the jump-off, 10 came from the A category. These included the eventual winner Brian Cassidy on Iquem Du Plesis, whose fast time of 40.23 seconds could not be bettered.

Caroline Black on Rathfilane Star from the AA category gave it her best effort, finishing in 42.52 for second place, while Ulster Region secretary and A rider Colleen Glasgow finished third with Turlough Cavalier Clover in 47.37.

The second competition for five-year-old horses produced a worthy winner in Simon Scott on Ballymullholland Echo Lass. Scott was one of seven combinations to go clear in the jump-off and as second last to go, his excellent time of 46.01 assured him of the first prize.

William Anderson and Ronnie Hollinger’s Creevagh Limited Edition took second place (46.51), while third place went to Conor McEneaney and Mullabrack Premier (48.16).

Next was the six and seven-year-old class. The standard of jumping was high in this category with 13 jumping clear and going through to the jump-off.

The seventh of these to jump clear in a time of 47.13 was Conor McEneaney on his father’s six-year-old Gunfire, who held on to lead to win.

William Anderson was in the ribbons again with the six-year-old Iroko Molly (47.16) for second place, while Melanie Davidson qualified her seven-year-old Quontum in a time of 49.22.

The last competition of the day was the 1.30m class which saw 16 of the 37 starters producing clear rounds and six of these going double clear over course designer Alistair Megahey’s strong course.

First to go, Conor McEneaney and Moonlite Cavalier set up the challenge with a clear round in 43.39 and the rider’s time could not be better, even when he tried himself with Kieran King’s Kings Best, who finished second in 43.76. Kirsten Farr and R. Candy’s time of 48.79 gave them third place.