A MIX of glorious weather and nail-biting jumping last week, made the 11th year of Mullingar International CSI2* one to remember.

With changes to the show layout, spectators had a full view of all arenas and as a result stayed late each evening to watch the jumping. For those that could not make it to the show, live streaming provided by Wilson Porter allowed them to watch the action at home.

Last Friday, Philip McGuane got the weekend off to a good start when he took the honours in the international warm-up, double clear in 30.20 with Antigone Gravelotte. Bred by Claire Bresson and now owned by Beat Mändli and Barry O’Connor, the eight-year-old gelding is by Breemeersen Adorado out of Libertina.

The combination made their first appearance in Mullingar this April. In Barnadown, they picked up their first result, finishing fourth in the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour. Edward Doyle erred on the side of the caution with Cantalina and a clear in 37.14 ensured him second place, ahead of Robbie Healy and KMS Clintland, last of the double clears in 41.13.

Galway’s Sven Hadley is certainly proving to be a force to be reckoned with of late and he didn’t disappoint as he took the honours in the Glenn Wood 1.25m Silver Tour on Saturday morning.

Riding Victoria Z, Hadley was fastest of the 42 combinations in a time of 55 seconds. John Floody and Craigmanus Hold Up Diamond took the runner-up spot, clear in 57.15. Gerard Clarke Jnr lodged a very fast time of 53.46, but four faults added an extra four seconds to his time (57.46) for third. Meadhbh Mealiff and Plamas kept all the poles in place in a time of 57.58 for eventual fourth ahead of Angela Percy and Active Cruise, in 59.42. Completing the top-six line-up were Ailish Connolly and Cool Boy O, in 59.67.

In the afternoon, the Devenish Bet Show Jumping Class took centre stage, with 73 combinations going to post. Of those, almost half delivered clears and the top 14 finishers stopped the clock within the 60-second mark. Taking the honors in 54.56 were Cian Harrison and the 15-year-old gelding Wannahave. Gerard Clarke Jnr was back in ribbons when he partnered Kellswater Crimson to a clear in 54.92 for second place.

Winner of the Spring Tour, the combination of Sven Hadley and Sumas Taloubet delivered a clear in 55.38 for third. Little separated the next placings as Jonathan Andrew and The Hurricane clocked 55.96 for fourth. American rider Rosalie Biedron and Charmeur secured fifth place, clear in 56.59, ahead of fellow American Veronica Tracy and Zuidam, in 56.62.

WIN FOR KILLEEN

It was a victory for Aidan Killeen in the Francis Derwin Equestrian-sponsored 1.40m. Riding Idream, he lodged the winning clear in 66.41. An 11-year-old Latvian warmblood (LBHA), Idream is by Irasir out of Lavleisa. She was bred by A/S Agrofirma Tervete and is now owned by Andrea Vogel. She is a new mount for Killeen and the pair had their first outing in Wellington in March. Prior to that, in 2014, the mare was campaigned by Alex Duffy up to CSI2*.

Little stood between the next placings as Captain Geoff Curran and Shannondale Rahona crossed the line just fractions behind in 66.43. Max O’Reilly Hyland’s clear with Dorado in 67.94 ensured him third place, ahead of Alexander Butler and Eldorado, who clocked 69.01. Canadian Rebecca McGoldrick and Cuba Libre were hot on Butler’s heels as she crossed the line in 69.13 for fifth. Accounting for sixth were Matt Garrigan and MHS La Scala, clear in 69.50.

On Sunday morning, 52 combinations took to the sand arena for the Grange Motors-sponsored Accumulator. With riders up for the challenge, 23 of those recorded the maximum score. Taking the honours, when lodging the fastest time of 41.23, were Sven Hadley and Realt Na Carraig. Just one second behind was Gerard Clarke Jnr and Fabio M, in 42.23 for second. Not content with the win, Hadley also accounted for third place with Victoria Z, when crossing the line in 43.32. Little separated the next placing as Max O’Reilly Hyland and Enigma galloped home in 43.81. Accounting for fifth place were Paddy O’Donnell and Hey There Delilah, in a time of 43.81, ahead of Meadhbh Mealiff and Plamas, in 44.32.

Later in the day, victory in the Jim Derwin Equestrian-sponsored 1.40m went to Mikey Pender. Riding the 10-year-old stallion Casanova Van Overis Z, he was fastest of the 20 double clears in 62.75.

Matt Garrigan added to his international placings when he took the runner-up spot. Riding MHS La Scala, he was fractions behind in 62.92. Max O’Reilly Hyland was back in the ribbons, this time taking third with Dorado when clocking 63.91, ahead of Kenneth Graham and George in 64.79. Fifth place belonged to Kate Derwin and AHG Whiterock Cruise Down, 66.48, while Tim Macdonagh and Tick Tock Tina completed the top six when stopping the clock in 66.68.

COMPETITIVE ACTION

Crowds sat on the bank for second-last class of the day, the Devenish Bet Showjumping Live. It was a very competitive class, with the top seven riders all finishing on four faults.

Riding for the red team and coming from heat four, it was Dermott Lennon and Vampire who took the win on a total score of four faults in 36.90. Nicholas Connors and Lantino 31 clocked 38.70 for second. Placed sixth in the earlier qualifier, American rider Veronica Tracy and Zuidam knew what she needed to do but despite a quick pace, stopped the clock in 38.75, for third. Cian Harrison and Wannahave also remained within the 40-second mark (39.90) as did Jonathan Andrew and the Hurricane for eventual fourth. A superb performance from Pro Am rider Vickie Anderson on Zack saw them clock 40.90 for sixth place.

Runner-up in the Puissance the day before, Mikey Pender went one better as he took the opening international class on Monday. Riding the Bravo Hughes’ seven-year-old mare HHS Florida, Pender took the win in the Castleforbes-sponsored 1.25m class. One of 11 double clears, they galloped home in 38.01. Pender was chased home by Angela Percy and Active Cruise, who clocked 38.49, ahead of Frank Curran and Elamo Luz Like A Real One in 38.86.

HADLEY’S HAUL

Sven Hadley added to his haul when he partnered Realt Na Carraig to a clear in 40.30, ahead of Max O’Reilly Hyland and Enigma in 41.14. Ailish Connolly and Cool Boy O, completed the top six, when she came home in 41.42

Winner of the Aisling Byrne’s Sport Horses 1.35m was Alan O’Regan and Liberation when they posted the fastest time of the 11 double clears, in 37.85. Peter Smyth and CHS Krooze were fractions behind in 38.66 for second. Both Gerard Clarke Jnr (Kellswater Crimson) and Mikey Pender (HHS Sevenhouses) clocked 39.26, to share third.

Jonathan Smyth opted for a more careful approach with Ping Ball and their time of 40.96 ensured them fifth. Completing the top-six line-up was Chris Megahey and Curprice, when clocking 42.65.

Following a stint of good results over the course of the show, Sven Hadley was named as the Tailored Equestrian Parlanti Leading International Rider.