Róisín Sheridan

A.P. McCoy and Alex Butler won the Horse First Chasing Champion competition in Cavan last Sunday. Ten teams made up of a well known show jumping rider and a top jockey lined out for the event which was run in aid of the Robbie McNamara Trust.

The course was made up of 12 fences; the first seven were about 1.30 metre and were taken on by the show jumpers, while fences seven to 12 standing at about one metre were for the race jockeys.

The duo of Daniel Coyle and Ken Whelan (Irish Jockeys Association) opened proceedings; the fall of the first fence by Coyle meant they were on the back foot from the off and with a total of nine seconds to add, they finished on a time of 63.91.

Neal Fearon and Bryan Cooper (Tully Developments Cavan) posted a clear round each and their total time of 56.88 set the target for the remaining eight teams.

Ger O’Neill and Andrew McNamara (Show Jumpers Club) had a shaky start when Ger’s mount stopped twice at the first fence and then had fence six down; McNamara then followed with a clear round that saw them finish on 72.25.

Paul Beecher and Townend (Gaybrook Lodge Stud) finished in a decent time with just three seconds to add after Beecher faulted at fence four, in 60.75.

Captain Michael Kelly and Danny Mullins (Tractormotors Cavan) began with a competitive clear from the Equitation School rider but a fault a number 11, which was jumped from a standstill, cost the pair three seconds but they still managed a decent time of 59.69.

Vincent Byrne and Charlie Swan (Ballytherm, Ballyconnell) left all the fences intact but finished with six to add in 61.27.

Nicola FitzGibbon was paired with Jonathon Burke (Albert Bartlett) and they were clear all the way, stopping the clock at 58.95.

Clem McMahon and Barry Geraghty (The Dylan Partnership) were fault-free, almost catching long-time leaders Fearon and Cooper but were just off target in 57.60.

Legends Nick Skelton and John Francomb (Horseware) were next. Skelton had a straightforward clear. Francomb unintentionally jumped an extra fence and one on the floor meant they notched up a time of 75.66.

The formidable pairing of Alex Butler and A.P. McCoy (KBG Accountants, Cavan) saw Butler produce a clear round and McCoy almost had a clear until the final fence fell. Despite this the pair still stole with a winning time of 55.02 almost two seconds faster than their closest rivals.

A last minute addition to the class was the team of Andrew McNamara and Neal Fearon who opted to swap tracks; McNamara over the larger fences and Fearon the smaller; McNamara did better with just one down while Fearon had two on the floor.

All riders involved donated their winnings and a raffle with great prizes ensured this event was a huge success.