Tara Dunne

JOHN Mulligan took the victory in the final Five-Year-Old Horse Sport Ireland Irish Sport Horse Studbook Showjumping Series with Mohill Spring.

In a 17-strong jump-off, which yielded 11 double clears, the €3,150 class was hard won as the time to beat got progressively faster with each rider. Tenth to go, Mulligan set what would prove to be an unbeatable standard of a double clear in a time of 29.58 seconds.

Owned and bred by John Mulligan senior, Mohill Spring is by Mohill Treble C out of the Mohill Gypsy dam Mohill Chair. The homebred gelding has shown good form throughout the season, qualifying for the five-year-old championship at Balmoral International, the five-year-old divisions at the Dublin Horse Show and most recently finishing fourth in the prestigious Millstreet Ruby.

Michael Pender and Z Seven Canya Dance took the runner-up spot, finishing fractionally slower when home in 29.88. Winner of the Dublin Horse Show Five-Year-Old Flexing National Championships with the Canya Makan gelding, Pender was assured of selection for the World Breeding Championships at Lanaken but was also confirmed on the day with Z Seven Caretina. Pender took fourth place with the Coltaire Z-sired mare when across the line in 30.01.

Linda Moloney finished a consistent season’s jumping in the series with Je T’Aime Flamenco-sired Zilko jumping another double clear (30.01) to claim the yellow rosette.

Mulligan may have taken the win on with the day but it was Shane Dalton who claimed the league with Castlelawn Captain Junior. His fifth place finish with a clear round in 30.83 saw him edge out Pender and Z Seven Caretina for the honours by a single point.

Bred by Gabriel Slattery, Castlelawn Captain Junior is by Captain Clover out of the Diamond Lad-sired dam Diroe. The stallion is another to have featured in the Millstreet Ruby and is selected for Lanaken.

Dalton has been based with Slattery for the last year and the result in the five-year-old class was only the beginning of a very successful day for the young rider.

Dalton said: “The season has been going great and hopefully the success continues. I just want to thank Gabe (Slattery) for all the help and support he has given throughout the year.”

Eddie Moloney rounded out the top six with MHS Quinton recording a time of 31.41.