IN impressive fashion, it was the first combination to go in Sunday afternoon’s Abbey Upholstery Ltd Power and Speed class that eventually took the win.

Normally the further down the startlist you are in this type of class, the more opportunity you have to perfect turns and shortcuts throughout the speed portion of the track and achieve the fastest clear.

No such time was needed for Frank Curran on this occasion. He was the pathfinder with Heffron Equine Ltd’s Oliver Twister, and what a path this pair found!

They left all the fences intact and stopped the clock in a time of 48.52, a target that was out of reach for the remaining 32 combinations and good enough to see them take the lion’s share of the €2,000 prize fund.

Fresh from their Autumn League Grand Prix win in Portmore just weeks earlier, Curran showed them all how it was done when executing a clear round without leaving the door even slightly ajar for his opponents.

Richard Kerins came closest when he and Achonry Carie lodged a speed round of 49.05 as 26th to go which would see them take the runner-up spot.

This place however, did add some valuable points to Kerins’ tally and by the end of the show, he was awarded the leading rider prize of a diamond and sapphire pendent, sponsored by Harry Fitzpatrick.

Sven Hadley and Topspin also looked to be in touch when they had a go as 19th in, but their time of 49.15 proved 0.63 off the target and they had to settle for third place.

Thomas O’Brien and Rockwood Pablo took fourth place when just slightly slower in 49.19, while Kevin Gallagher and Flexability were fifth in 50.31. O’Brien and his other mount, Miss Darco, were sixth in 50.87.

Win for Finnerty

Meanwhile, Mark Finnerty and All Action produced a convincing win in Saturday evening’s Cavan County Council Speed class posting a time of 67.27 to head proceedings and take the winner’s share of the €4,000 prize fund.

Jenny Kuehnle and her nine-year-old Lux Z mare Tullibards Miss Optimistic took second place when they broke the finish beam in 68.47.

The Army Equitation School’s Lt Charlene Kehoe and Shannondale Rahona slotted into third place when they recorded a time of 68.71, while Derek McConnell and Dothraki Warlord were fourth in 69.82.

Fifth place went to Anthony O’Regan riding Holmoak Koln in 70.01, while Gerard Clarke and Honfleur took sixth in 70.45.

In addition to this win, at the end of the show, Finnerty was also awarded the Benny Kuehnle award for the most improved young rider.

The final class of the show, the 1.30m final was won by Steph Callwood riding Opis Day. They produced a time of 41.71 to secure the top-spot.

Shane Goggins was runner-up with Galwaybay Holly R in 41.85, while Olive Clarke was third in 43.72 with Carrowgar J’Aime.

Fourth place went to Allan Birch riding Parkmore Rowan in 44.09, fifth was Elaine O’Neill and Hard To Beat in 45.38. Clarke slotted into sixth with her other mount HVL Oxana in 45.42.