David Abbott
COUNTY Louth’s Eithne O’Hanrahan landed the advanced primary championship title at the Connolly’s Red Mills national show jumping championships at Mullingar EC, the Border Counties rider being one of seven who progressed to the championship final.
O’Hanrahan, who had the advantage of jumping last, was riding a six-year-old Connemara pony Kilmurray Admiral and timed her round to perfection as she crossed the line in a time of 44.36 seconds, just 0.64 adrift of the optimum time of 45 seconds to claim the spoils.
It was a narrow victory for O’Hanrahan, as second-placed Emma Reynolds was just 0.78 off the target on Shalamar Jlo for Lakelands. Eithne O’ Hanrahan had earlier won the qualifier class from a field of 42 riders where 17 of those made it through to the jump-off.
The Dromiskin resident could not believe her luck after her win, saying: “I’m delighted with how he jumped. I have him nearly two years now and we’ve moved up from 70cms with the help of Geraldine Bellew and it’s all starting to come together. It was a fantastic achievement and huge thanks to my super groom Nat O’Hanrahan.”
MISSED OUT
In the advanced intermediate championship, Jacqui Boland missed out on retaining her title for a second successive year. The Killossery rider made it through to the jump-off in the final with three other riders but the Navan resident returned with a pole on the floor on board Maverick Na Ri.
Mosstown’s Lesley Fitzgerald, who produced the only clear round in the jump-off, claimed the spoils on Knockmeal Cosmos in a time of 31.72. Boland was quickest of the four-faulters, to finish second with Maverick Na Ri.
Earlier Jacqui Boland had won the qualifier from a field of 53 riders, where 26 went forward to the jump-off with Boland quickest in a time of 27.50 ahead of Tynagh’s Thomas Daniels (Barnaboy Jackeen) on 29.73.
Sally Mahon continued her winning streak when the Donegal Gaeltacht rider won the open championship. Mahon set an impressive time of 30.48 on Graf Landlord in a three way jump-off to claim the spoils ahead of Mosstown’s Sean Kennedy on Zandor. Mahon added the latest title to her collection after she won two open show jumping classes at last month’s Riding Clubs Festival in Stradbally.
Last year’s winner Vanessa McDonald (Vanessas Pride) had to settle for third place in the final but won the qualifier earlier in the day, when the Benbulben rider was fastest of the six riders through to the jump-off.
The intermediate championship attracted a large entry, with over 50 riders taking part in the qualifier.
Clodagh Barry gave a good account in the morning qualifier where the Inishowen rider finished first of 27 riders who made it through to the jump-off. Barry riding her 22-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Sparkling Silver Fox, set an unbeatable time of 22.84 in the qualifier.
The Donegal-based rider however didn’t feature among the prize winners in the final, where eight of the 21 qualified riders went through to jump-off where Peter Dargan claimed the spoils.
Dargan riding Temple Cruise, a 15-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse, was the only competitor to get under 30 seconds around the reduced track. The Kilrainy rider crossed the beam in a time of 29.56 with all fences standing to take the title back to Meath. Celbridge’s Margaret McCumisky was closest on Sheena to take the blue ribbon in a time of 30.05.
In the primary championship, Christine Rohan won the title after she was one of just four double clear rounds in the final.
The Dalysgrove rider finished closest to the optimum time on Sweet Callows Gale, leaving South Roscommon’s Wendy Conlon in second place on Lookout Master Moonshine who had earlier won the qualifier.