THE Cladem Equestrian/Kingsland Puissance on Saturday evening was a real crowd pleaser and eight riders lined out for the first round over three fences – a vertical, oxer and the big wall, in a bid to claim the lion’s share of the €1,500 prize money on offer.

All eight starters made it through the first round to progress to round two with the raised wall. Once again all eight contenders remained fault-free to progress to the third round.

Round three saw five riders – Pauric Hayes (Captain Cornetto), Lee Carey (French Touch), Dominic Webb (Rockstown Park), Tadgh Kearney (Ballydarton Chipison), Cian Goggins (Defi Bigtime) – collect faults, leaving only three to go forward to the fourth round.

Britain’s Dominic Webb and his second mount, Cycloon W, were the only victims of the bigger wall in the fourth round and his exit meant that just two combinations, Micheal Whyte (Amaretto) and Nano Healy (KMS Clintland), went forward for the fifth and final round, with the wall standing at a massive 2.10m.

Whyte was first to go, a gentle nudge of the top of the wall saw the light white blocks hit the ground and cost the pair four faults.

Last in was resident Cavan rider, Mullingar native Nano Healy and KMS Clintland. A perfect clear over the 2.10m wall meant that they were the outright winners and Whyte had to settle for the runner-up spot. Healy also won the Puissance competition at Ballinasloe earlier this year.