INPULSS and Natasha Carolan were the unexpected winners of the prestigious Cavan Crystal Hotel five-year-old championship in Cavan last Sunday.
Three fantastic clear rounds, the final one in a winning jump-off time of 42.19, saw Carolan claim the lion’s share of the €6,500 prize fund.
Speaking to The Irish Field about the victory, Carolan said: “It was a very proud moment for me. I’ve had her (Inpulss) since she was three years old and I have produced her myself. I think we have developed a brilliant bond together, I know her inside out and I think she is a special horse.”
Carolan only began riding when she was 12, and since then she progressed from a riding school and hunter trails through to producing young horses. Carolan is based at NKC Sport Horses in Killinkere, Co Cavan, where she has four other horses.
“I did a few SJAI clinics in Mullingar a couple of years ago, and I did three or four lessons with Clem McMahon last year but for the most part I’m self-taught. Liam O’Meara and Greg Broderick have both given me a lot of help. I tend to stick close to them at shows if I can and they have been really good to me; offering advice and guidance.
“Another person who has been a fantastic help to me is Robert Murdy. He lets me use the facilities at his Ross House Equestrian Centre which is great.
“There has been a huge amount of interest in her (Inpulss). She finished in sixth place in Balmoral and jumps well whenever she’s out. She qualified for the Young Riders in Dublin but didn’t have the minimum amount of points required (30) to compete at that stage so unfortunately we couldn’t go.
“She is not for sale at the moment. She is talented and I want to go further with her and see how things work out. For the moment, I just want to enjoy her success,” said the winning rider.
JUMP-OFF
A total of 33 starters lined out for the first round of the Cavan Crystal Hotel-sponsored class. Of them 17 produced fault-free rounds to progress to round two. Some 10 combinations remained on a zero score to make it into the timed decider.
Just three of the 10 left all the fences up. First to go, Richard Hourigan and Killaloan Conrad Carel had the first fence down for four faults in a time of 49.50.
Natasha Carolan was second in with Inpulss and provided a third clear round, including a nervous moment at the second part of the double when the pair stood off the oxer, despite this, they crossed the finish in 42.19 to head proceedings.
Next in, Abigail Stafford and Cienna Z had a single fence down in 41.87 for eventual fifth place. Catherine Thornton and ABC Caruso had two fences on the floor, followed by Luke Campbell and Derryinver Premier Sarah who had one fence down.
Tom Hearne riding Cove Park also collected eight faults, while Olive Clarke and Swift Action had one down in 42.11. Izzy ridden by Derek McConnell had four faults in the fastest time of the day of 41.81 for fourth place.
Catherine Thornton and her second mount of the day HSC Sunny Jim (Pacino – Conquistador) then provided the long awaited second clear round when they left all the fences intact, in a time of 44.67, for third place.
Dean Rogan riding D’Oisiliere had a fence down in a fast time of 41.95 for sixth place. Last of the 10 to go, Nano Healy and ESI Everest (Callahan – Heartbreaker) broke the beam in 43.06 to claim the runners-up spot.