THE first international class at Mullingar International kicked off with the Glenn Wood 1.25m Silver Tour where 68 competitors took up the gauntlet.

Speed merchant Sven Hadley led the victory lap last Saturday when he delivered a clear in 47.59 with the KWPN gelding Ganorad. Owned by Hadley Sport Horses, the eight-year-old Bacardi VDL gelding is out of the Undercover-sired dam Anora.

Hot on his heels was Eddie Moloney, riding the Charlie Soden-owned Quiara M, they crossed the line in 50.25 for second. John Floody’s clear with Craigmanus Hold Up Diamond in 52.30 saw him take third. Paddy O’Donnell also had his foot firmly to the floor with Seefin Surprise and even though a pole added four-time penalties to his final score, an adjusted time of 53.34 saw him take fourth.

Wesley Ryan put in a foot-perfect round with the 13-year-old stallion Bernhard in 53.52 to secure fifth. Completing the top-six line-up were Conor Cassidy and Lima Fortuna who also had penalties added when faulting once and finished in an adjusted time of 53.61.

Win for Kearney

Victory in the Devenish Bet Show Jumping Live Qualifier 1.30m went to Tadhg Kearney, clear with the nine-year-old Cicero Z Van Paemel-sired gelding Fanta M in 59.25. Cian Harrison and Mr Big Cash were fractions behind in 59.56 for second place.

Eddie Moloney was back in the ribbons when he partnered Quiara M to a clear in 61.75 for third. Little separated the next placing as Thomas O’Brien and Rockwood Pablo clocked 61.82 for fourth. Eddie Moloney took another share of the prize fund when he delivered a clear with Cruicerath Flexianna in 62.66 for eventual fifth. Accounting for sixth place were John Floody and Donevan Erkindale, clear in 63.55.

Strategy pays off

The Mullingar Equestrian Horse and Pony Sales 1.40m proved very competitive with 25 of the 64 combinations booking their place in the jump-off. The course allowed many opportunities to make up time, but an inside line back to four and then on the double was required. This matched with a sharp turn to the triple bar on to fence 14 was a necessary manoeuvre to be in with a chance. Taking the win was Jack Ryan who lodged the winning round in 31.61 with Essenar High Hopes. Owned by Annemarie Fagan of Mullingar Equestrian, there was plenty of support for this combination. The Danish-bred is by Phin out of the Indoctro-sired dam Leni-jo. Not content with the win, the 17-year-old young rider also took second with Moneybroom Dancer, clear in 31.71.

Eddie Moloney wasted no time with Andiamix Hero Z, when he delivered a clear in 31.71 for third. Jonathan Smyth did not hang about with Mulvin Lui, but a slower time of 33.11, saw him slot into fourth. Jennifer Kuehnle took the lead temporarily when she negotiated a series of turns with the nine-year-old mare Hvl Consun and clocked 33.27, but with fast combinations to follow, she finished in fifth place, ahead of Keith Shore who had set the early target of 33.33 with Iron Lady Van T Meulenhof.

MacDonagh shines

Last Sunday, a maximum score of 65 for Tim MacDonagh and Mr Boom in 51.52 saw the duo claim victory in the Michael Morrissey Horse Trucks Accumulator 1.25m. Competition in this class came down to the time, with 13 of the 79 starters recording the maximum score. Sven Hadley’s experience against the clock stood to him as he clocked 52.52 with Ganorad to fill the runner-up place.

Eddie Moloney added to his tally when he slotted into third with Quiara M, stopping the clock in 53.76. John Floody was back in the line-up, taking fourth with Claire Craig’s Craigmanus Hold Up Diamond, coming home in 54.64. Fifth place was filled by Daniel McAlinden and Leanorth Soda Pop in 59.42, ahead of Louis Gates-Hardiman and Easton Scala G, in 59.85.

Hat-trick

Jack Ryan took another win with Essenar High Hopes in the Francis Derwin Equestrian 1.40m Gold Tour. The combination was fastest of 12 clears in 68.40. Robert Harrison and Landlystes Rubina also answered all the questions and crossed the line in 68.64 for second place. Little stood between the next placing as Ger O’Neill delivered a clear with Keatingstown Z Wellie Two in 68.78 for third. Accounting for eventual fourth was Tim MacDonagh and Tick Tock Tina in 70 seconds ahead of Cian Harrison and Tabby in 71.77. Filling sixth place were Max O’Reilly Hyland and Dorado who stopped the clock in 73.36.

Puissance thriller

As always, the Dublin Horse Show Puissance qualifier proved to be a very crowd-pleasing event with seven riders taking up the challenge. Following the first round, three competitors faulted at the triple bar.

Three combinations, Wesley Ryan (Larthago), Nano Healy (KMS Clintland) and Michael Whyte (Amaretto), cleared the wall twice at 1.80m which was the RDS qualification requirement. In the end however, there was anxious moments as Wesley Ryan and Nano Healy cleared the wall at two meters and went on to take home €1,500 each for their efforts, while Michael Whyte who faulted in the fifth round, took third place and brought home €500.

Victory for Smyth

Jonathan Smyth took his first international win of the show when he led the victory lap in Monday’s 1.25m Castleforbes Stud Silver Tour Final. Riding Kathleen Gallagher’s Cruising Lux, he was the fastest of 10 double clears in 30.56.

Sven Hadley also remained in the 30-second marker, when he crossed the line with Sumas Taloubet in 30.95 for second place. Slotting into third was Michael Whyte and Glynnwood Joy, fractions behind in 33.23. Fourth place belonged to Jamie Landers and Castleforbes Vitoria, when they stopped the clock in 35.13 ahead of Philip Horgan and Dionysos de La Vigne, in 35.29. French rider Tess Drouin-Reed took a more cautious approach with Toll Crazy Jump and filled sixth place, clocking 36.51.

Moloney takes title

Jack Ryan completed his great weekend on another winning note when he clinched victory in the Jim Derwin Equestrian 1.30m on Monday morning. In total ,56 combinations went to post and 10 delivered double clears. Riding Cavalier Teaca, Ryan lodged the winning time of 24.57.

It was also a good weekend for Thomas O’Brien who took the runner-up place aboard Rockwood Pablo, fractions behind in 25.71. Eddie Moloney added to his record card as he partnered Cruicerath Flexianna into third, stopping the clock in 26.68, ahead of John Floody and Donevan Erkindale in 26.97. A quick pace for James Dunne and Blurred Lines saw them stop the clock in 27.79 for fifth, while Katie Conlon and Interpreter accounted for sixth, crossing the line in 28.31.

Consistently placed over the course of the show, Eddie Moloney was named as the Tailored Equestrian Leading Rider of the Show when accumulating a total of 86 points. Moloney was placed in seven of the nine international classes.