David Abbott
MEABH Keating won the open and advanced open leading rider title at the Association of Irish Riding Clubs Masters Series final last Sunday.
The Arderin rider, who won the Grand Prix, also added a third place in the two-phase class to give her the highest points tally of 25 at the show.
Just two riders, Keating and Sean Kennedy, made it through to the jump-off from the starting field of 12 riders in the open and advanced open Grand Prix. Keating went in first but her 11-year-old bay ISH gelding, Shylock Flight, rolled the final fence to finish on four penalties but set a fast time of 44.72 seconds.
Kennedy opted for a slow steady clear round but this backfired on the Mosstown rider as, although Zandor left all the fences intact, his time of 56.88 was over the time allowed and left the Leitrim based rider on nine penalties in second place.
Just three riders completed the two-phase with nothing to add, where Keating’s time of 49.58 left the Birr resident in third place as Clonshire’s Marie Crosse claimed the spoils on St Helene. Valerie Joy also bettered Keating’s time to claim the blue ribbon on Cranny Chipison for Old Mill.
Speaking afterwards, Keating said: “My horse [Malcolm], who I have the ride of from Birr Equestrian Centre, was in serious form and played a blinder. We both loved the brilliant technical course building on the day and I’m looking forward to brushing up on my skills with the fabulous training bursary awarded.”
Donegal-based riders dominated the other two divisions on the day, with Emma Carton landing the advanced intermediate title after a close contest. The Letterkenny rider won the title after she accumulated 41 points giving her a one-point lead over Ballinasloe’s Danielle Murphy.
Carton opened her account with a win in the two-phase competition where Somhairle Red Tiger’s time of 39.41 gave her a commanding lead over Raynall Cunningham (Killahara Boy) who stopped the clock on 43.01 in second place.
The Letterkenny rider didn’t make it through to the jump-off in the grand prix and finished just outside the top six as the fastest four faulter. Jacqui Boland claimed the spoils on this occasion on Maverick Na Ri ahead of Danielle Murphy (Banagher Coronado).
Carton said afterwards: “It’s great to get the training bursary and I can’t wait to use it over the summer. I’m getting a young horse and can use the training to educate myself and him at the same time.
“My aunt Kate, who owns and bred Somhairle Red Tiger, was over the moon at being able to see her compete at such a great venue,” she added.
Cassandra McGee won the intermediate leading rider title after two consistent performances on the day. The Donegal Gaeltacht rider was runner-up in the Grand Prix and claimed fifth in the two-phase to win the title on 46 points ahead of Letterkenny’s Dawn Hyndman (Colourado Kid) on 44.
McGee’s clubmate Roseleen McGinley claimed the Grand Prix spoils on Lacoda. McGinley’s time of 44.42 was just slightly ahead of McGee on Jenny’s Jigsaw on 44.53 as the top five riders jumped double clear rounds.
Earlier in the two-phase, McGee was among seven riders who had nothing to add but her time of 45.12 left her in fifth place behind Laura Bohan, who crossed the line on 42.58 for the Mullingar club.
McGee said afterwards: “I was delighted to have won the intermediate leading rider as it was an unexpected surprise. Having just joined the club this year, it was a great experience at my first national competition.”