Tara Dunne

EDWARD Butler finished the young horse classes at Cavan International Show with a victory in the Radisson Blu sponsored Six And Seven-Year-Old Final. Paired with CSF Whiterock Cruise, Butler took a decisive victory when coming home with over two seconds in hand over nearest rival Joanne Blair.

Having the unenviable job of playing pathfinder in the 11 strong jump-off with Rincoola Rua, Butler made the most of his second chance to shine aboard CSF Whiterock Cruise when stopping the clock at a fault free 29.93.

Bred by Patrick Connolly of the Co Galway-based Connolly’s Stud Farm, CSF Whiterock Cruise is by Cruising out of the Diamond Serpent-sired dam Coolcaum Ella. The seven-year-old mare is well related with Coolcaum Ella also having produced Wilywonty, a former six-year-old finalist at the World Breeding Championships at Lanaken with Clem McMahon.

Anne Clancy’s CSF Whiterock Cruise was produced by Cathal McMunn and is a former runner-up in the Five-Year-Championship at the Dublin Horse Show. A new addition to Butler’s Co Meath yard this year, the pair have cemented their partnership throughout the season to culminate in Sunday’s win.

Joanne Blair proved next fastest to take the runner-up position when her own O.T.T Alfie came home in 32.29 with nothing to add. The seven-year-old gelding is by Puissance out of a Broussard-sired dam. Blair has shown good form of late showcasing her speed credentials with a win in the competitive 1.30m Speed Championships at the Northern Indoor Championships.

Captain Michael Kelly, on form throughout the week notched up yet another placing with Bonmahon Master Blue. Delivering the first double clear of the class, Kelly clocked a time of 34.50 with the six-year-old Mister Blue-sired stallion.

Francis Connors was the only other rider to keep a clean sheet on his second outing. Riding the seven-year-old Ard VDL Douglas-sired mare Erne Lady Goldilocks, Connors crossed the line in a time of 35.34 to secure the green rosette.

Produced effectively through the age classes this year by Connors, Erne Lady Goldilocks picked up results in the seven-year-old divisions of the ISH Showjumping Series as well as qualifying for the international seven and eight-year-old class at the Dublin Horse Show and the World Breeding Championships at Lanaken.

Declan Egan was the fastest of the four-faulters and the only rider to make it into the top six with a six-year-old horse. Last to go in the clocked round, Egan looked on target with Richard Bourns’ Carmargue-sired gelding Dior but the penultimate vertical came down to see the pair slip down the line-up.

Both Connors and Egan will contest the Six and seven-year-old championship at Emerald International this weekend.

James Hogg took the final placing in the line-up with the seven-year-old Ard VDL Douglas mare Always On My Mind.

Early to go in the jump-off, Hogg looked like setting a good standard when the clock showed a time of 32.85 but the final fence came down to relegate the northern rider to the lower end of the line-up.