Emer Bermingham

THE Devenish Bet Showjumping Live speed class proved to be a real crowd pleaser as spectators cheered their chosen riders on from start to finish.

A total of 32 riders from the four qualifiers battled it out in a bid to claim the winner’s share of the €20,000 on offer. From the 32 riders qualified, they were split into four groups with the winner of each group proceeding to the final round.

In the first group it was Nicola Fitzgibbon and Castleforbes who came out on top by going clear in 61.09. Francis Connors and Uskerty Diamond Lady took the second group victory when they delivered the only clear of the eight riders in this group in 62 seconds.

In the third group, Jordan Coyle set the target when clear in 63.91 with Amegio VH Winkenshow Z , but Kenneth Graham went one better when he delivered a clear with Lenamore Donatella in 60.99 to claim that group win. A clear in 63.16 seconds saw Gerard Clarke and Zanibar V head the final group.

The crowds were on their feet for the final. First to go with Zanibar V, Gerard Clarke’s gallop to the last which saw him take out a stride paid dividends as he lodged a clear in 57.67.

However, Clarke’s hopes of a win were dashed when Francis Connors took every tight turn and a daring gallop on the route home saw him clock the winning time of 55.60.

Things didn’t go according to plan for Nicola Fitzgibbon as she incurred 12 faults with Castleforbes Tina in 60.38, while Kenneth Graham also suffered a similar fate albeit in a slower time of 62.34 for fourth.

Speaking after the win, Connors said: “It was a very good class and it was a very competitive class from the start. I knew I had a lot to do as Ger had set a tough target and that it would be hard to beat. I took all the tight lines and just went for it. The mare was fantastic and didn’t let me down. It is a great class and great to see all the people watching and getting involved.”