TWO young riders proved that the future of Irish show jumping is in safe hands by dominating the final day of competition at the Cavan International Show last weekend.

Jonathan Smyth and Darragh Ryan captured the two feature classes on Sunday. Smyth rode Charlton Clio to win the €8,000 Grand Prix, while Ryan’s victory in the Power and Speed competition with ApacheVD Lange Vos secured him the Leading Young Rider title and the Benny Kuehnle memorial trophy.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the win. I thought it was a challenging track. This was just the second or third time she (Charlton Clio) has done a 1.50m class so it was a step up for her,” said Smyth following his win.

“She coped well in the first round so I was quite confident in the second. I was third last to go so I was able to watch a few go and my plan was to try to make up time with a tight turn into the double and then a good quick run to the last.

“We managed to stick to the plan and I think that that’s where we made up the time. I did realise that the final vertical deserved some respect as it was big, so while I did put on the pressure down the final line I was careful not to let her run on too much; a couple of the guys did better my time but at the expense of having the final fence down.”

Smyth has enjoyed a successful season in 2016 winning the National Grand Prix in the Meadows Equestrian Centre in June, a young rider class at the Dublin Horse Show in August, an Autumn Grand Prix league win in Portmore in October, as well as several other placings and wins. He is looking forward to giving his horses a rest period while planning for 2017.

“I’m lucky to have a few good horses at the moment. I plan to do some Premier Grand Prix classes with Charlton Clio next year and also have the talented eight-year-old gelding Ping Ball for the Grand Prix division.

“Another one of my string that I’m really excited about - I think he’s probably the best horse I have - is the six-year-old gelding Mulvin Lui (Luidam – Baron De Chantepie), so if I’m lucky enough to be able to hang on to him I think he could be really special.”

Next on his agenda is a trip to Florida in January.

“I won a bursary during the summer and will be heading to the Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach for a couple of months so I’m really looking forward to that.

“I don’t know yet who I will be based with but the young riders that have gone before me have gone to some exceptional yards so I’m sure it will be great,” said Smyth.

A total of 38 riders lined out for the Grand Prix on Sunday evening and of these, just nine made it through to the jump-off.

Dermott Lennon was pathfinder riding Vicky Loane’s Gelvins Touch. A late falling pole at the oxer at number three saw them collect four faults in a time of 41.66.

Sean Monaghan was next in with FTS Cmon Girl. They too faulted at fence three but in a slower time of 43.79.

Alex Butler and Rincoola Rua began well and were up on time heading to the second last fence but an attempt at a very tight angle into the double did not work out on this occasion and the pair collected four faults for the refusal and a further four in time faults.

As fourth to go Curraighgraigue Jack Take Flight and Liam O’Meara managed to achieve the first double clear of the class; stopping the clock at 41.34 to head proceedings.

Young Jack Ryan and Cavalier Tecca began at a fast pace and managed every turn back. Their efficiency saw them over two seconds up on time as they headed down the long run to the final fence. With plenty of time to spare they took a flyer to the last and had it down to collect four faults in the fastest time of the day of 38.64 which would leave them in eventual third place.

Having just moved up to this height division, Tholm Keane and Amanda Kirwan’s eight-year-old mare Highly Efficient (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan – Cool Caum Hill) then out in an impressive performance, having just one fence down after a right-handed turn back to number five to finish on four faults in a time of 42.72 for eventual seventh place.

Smyth was next to go and he and Charlton Clio kept up the pace the whole way around the track, wasting no time but show a little bit of restraint to the final fence to keep them all intact in a time of 41.18 and snatch the lead from O’Meara.

The penultimate rider in was O’Meara and his second mount Mr Coolcaum. Keen to regain his lead, O’Meara managed to keep up the pace the whole way around the track but he too was caught out at the final fence. He finished on four faults in a time of 39.38 for fourth place.

The final combination in was young rider European team gold medallist Matt Garrigan and Contino 56. They too began well and were in touch for a win until the last fence where they became its third victim and finished with four faults in a time of 40.13 for fifth place.