Emer Bermingham
THE opening round of the Underwriting Exchange Limited Jumping in the City kicked off last Friday with more than 1,200 spectators from all walks of life flocking to Limerick Greyhound Stadium.
Commercial and operations manager of the stadium, John McCarthy, considered it a major success, saying: “We were delighted with the evening as it attracted not just show jumping people but a variety of people with different interests. It was one of our busiest evenings since we opened the stadium. It was encouraging to see that the stadium could hold such an event and we got very positive feedback. We look forward to working with Horse Sport Ireland on future projects.”
Jumping in front of a packed house, 16 combinations went to post in the West Wood Ifor Williams Amateur Speed class.
Aoife McGuire and Mane Attraction laid down the gauntlet when they stopped the clock in 67.84 seconds for eventual fifth. Pat Murphy kept his foot to the floor with You Two Babe, but despite a clean sheet, a clear in 68.87 saw him finish behind McGuire.
Andrew Byrne lowered the target to 61.72 with Hunter’s Lodge Puissance, but his lead held temporarily as Aileen McDermott with Kilcor Amber shaved almost three seconds off the time (57.28) to take the lead. Paul Carroll also kept the course in tact with Castleroche L Roche, albeit in a slower time of 64.06 for fourth. Last to go with Wodonja G, Chantal Kiely tried hard, but a 63.46, saw her finish in third place, behind Byrne, leaving McDermott to take the inaugural win.
The Underwriting Exchange Limited Grand Prix saw a total of 16 riders take on James Tarrant’s course. Michael Ryan’s eventing experience came in handy as his mount Ballylynch Wizard overcame a slip to deliver the first clear round of the competition. Following Ryan’s clear, a further six riders proceeded to the timed round.
Seamus Hayes opted to play it safe with Barichello W and it paid off as he delivered a clear in 56.66, for fifth place.
Francis Connors and Hyperion faulted at the first part of the double and crossed the line in 50.46 for sixth.
Mike Ryan and Ballylynch Wizard finished on a total of eight faults in 55.43 for seventh.
Captain Michael Kelly negotiated all the tight lines with Drumiller Lough and delivered a clear in 49.47 to take the lead. Kelly’s lead was short-lived however, as John Mclaughlin took every chance with Java’s Wild Child and stopped the clock in 47.45.
Liam O’Meara, delivered a clear round with Mr Coolcaum, but a slower time of 50.38 saw him finish just behind Kelly in the line-up.
Last to go, all eyes were on Deane Rogan who wasted no time with Falco Van Spieveld. A daring gallop to the last fence paid off as he clocked 46.48 to see him take the honours, leaving Mclaughlin to take second and Kelly third.
Full of praise for the horse, Rogan said: “It was great to win here tonight with such a crowd watching. I have had the horse since a five-year-old and have produced it myself, which is a reward for our hard work. It was a fast jump-off, but it was at the last that I made up the time.”
The Devenish Puissance saw six riders taking on the big red wall. Finishing at two metres, just one combination, Liam O’Meara and Cisero kept all the blocks in place in the final round. William McDonnell and Castlecomer Q faulted in fourth round for second place, while Sven Hadley cleared the wall second time round at 1.90m for third place.
O’Meara said: “Cisero is not the easiest horse to ride, but he has plenty of heart and this is what you need for this class. He won Dublin in 2012, so he is well used to the task. I am looking forward to the next round and then on to Dublin Horse Show.”