KATE Derwin (19) had the best finish to 2020 when she came out on top in the final of the 1.40m Autumn Grand Prix League in Cavan last Sunday, while it was John McEntee who won the overall title.

Riding Jim Derwin’s Deep Pockets, an 11-year-old gelding by O.B.O.S Quality 004, out of Simply Chic (Cruising), the talented young rider showed just why she can never be underestimated against the clock, breaking the beam in 40.89 almost two seconds faster than her closest opposition.

Speaking after the win, Derwin said: “It’s a great way to end the year. We had finished up after Vilamoura and the horses were all out in the field and then I got a call from Micheal Blake about the Masters show so we decided to bring him (Deep Pockets) back in.

“Once he was up and going again we thought we’d make a weekend of it and go on to Cavan. He’s gone back out now to join the others for a well-deserved break. It’s hard right now to make any sort of a plan for next year with things so up in the air, we’ll just work away with the hunters at home over Christmas and take every day as it comes.

“There is plenty to be excited about for 2021; the horses all had a good year with plenty of decent results. I’m looking forward to seeing how my Dad’s five-year-old mare mare Carrabeg Enigma progresses. She is by Je T’Aime Flamenco out of Lislan Ruby, by Maltstriker, and was bred by Susan Malee.

“She had some good results during the year in the Irish Sport Horse classes, as well as at the Breeders Classic Show. I think she will be something pretty special so I can’t wait to see her progress this year.”

A start list of 57 combinations lined out to throw their hat into the ring for the final round of the league. Just 12 made it through the first round clear to proceed to the jump-off. Two riders – Katie Nallon (Baly Fair Deal) and Paul Beecher (Glamstone) – just missed out, picking up a single time fault apiece.

Katie Nallon is just 13 years of age and jumped two horses in Sunday’s 1.40m class; surely a talent to watch for in the future as she follows in the footsteps of her older brother, Ciaran, who is now based in Europe.

Some 15 combinations had one fence down for four faults. McEntee and Hip Girl was among the four-faulters but in the end it didn’t matter as they won the league by 20 points. Second place in the league went to Philip Gaw and Ardnacashel Coovella, but the horse has changed ownership in recent weeks and, now owned by Sandra Duffy, actually finished second in Sunday’s round under Brendan Murphy.

Of the dozen that made it into the timed round, five kept a fault-free score. Derwin proved fastest of these. Brendan Murphy and the 11-year-old mare Ardnacashel Coovella (Luidam x Harlequin Du Carel) came closest to catching Derwin, they stopped the clock at 42.50 for the runner-up spot.

Rebecca McGoldrick and her own Belgian-bred mare Fleur IV finished third in 43.01. Jenny Rankin and Barry O’Connor’s German-bred mare Gerona slotted into fourth place in 45.45, while Clem McMahon and Gary McNamara’s seven-year-old stallion Legaland Team Spirit (Sandro Boy x Heartbreaker) were fifth.

Mikey Pender and Miguel Bravo’s Casanova Van Overis Z took sixth place as the fastest four-faulters to complete the line-up.

Title for McEntee

Co Down rider John McEntee and Hip Girl won the overall 2020 title and took home the league prize of €2,500. Along with the overall prize fund, he also won a young rider’s bursary to the value of €500, sponsored by the SJI Young Riders Committee.

He won four rounds of the league, starting with back-to-back 1.35m and 1.40m wins in Cavan in September, following by the 1.40m in Cavan in October and again at the same venue on December 5th. Despite picking up faults last weekend, he landed a 20-point victory.

“I am very happy with it, it is my first time to win the league,” McEntee said. “I am still in Marion Hughes’ at the moment, the mare is going to get a break now and we will start up again for the Spring Tour.”