THE Francis Derwin Bloodstock-sponsored 1.35m Grand Prix took centre stage at Cavan on Saturday with 61 combinations going to post. Of the original starters, 22 booked their place against the clock. Taking the win was Aidan Killeen when he crossed the line clear in 27.25 aboard Helianthus H. Owned by Tynagh House Stud Ltd & Trefoil Farm LLC, the nine-year-old KWPN mare was bred by J. Haanen and is by Quality Time out of the Ovidius-sired Zonneglans. The mare was previously campaigned by American rider Julie Welles.

Emily Turkington was certainly on form as she took the runner-up placing. Riding Susanne Macken’s eight-year-old Nobel, she kept the poles in place in 27.52. Robyn Moran added to her record sheet as she took third place with Vera Griffin’s seven-year-old Cushlas Fryday, clear in 28.43.

Edward Doyle put in a foot-perfect round with Peadar Byrne’s Cruise More in 28.57 for eventual fourth. Sven Hadley also took a share of this prize fund when he came home with nothing to add aboard Uidam in 29.59. Completing the top-six line-up were Robert Splaine and Cambridge when they stopped the clock in 30.93.

1.30m Grand Final

Wexford young rider Taylor Peare emerged victorious in the 1.30m Grand Final when she guided Lissyegan Geoffrey to victory. Peare was just one of three double clears in a time of 35.84. Owned by Pat Peare, the 11-year-old gelding is by Hermes De Reve out of the Captain Clover-sired Woodbank Shiraz.

Almost two seconds separated the placings as Richard Kerins and Anhonry Carie clocked 38.05 for second place. Nicholas D. Connors opted for the safer approach with the six-year-old Fornett D’Emeraude and kept all the poles in place in 42.20. Young rider Lucy Shanahan proved that the time could be beaten when she clocked 34.66 with Omane Des Faux, but a pole down denied her the win and she finished in fourth. Fellow young rider Ella Clancy and Shooting Star also crossed the line on four faults in 37.09 for fifth place. Sven Hadley was back in the ribbons, claiming sixth with Adrian Hewson’s Calanthe Slot, when he had one down in 38.11.

All Ireland Speed Championship

The speed championship saw 100 combinations go to post and with riders up for the challenge almost all the starters delivered clears and with little separating the times. Leading the victory lap was Kildare young rider Daniel Fitzgerald. Riding his own La Grande Z, he clocked the winning time of 46.57.

Speed merchant Sven Hadly followed closely behind when he stopped the clock in 46.74 aboard Zenas Flight. Paul Carberry knew that he needed to keep the pressure on a clear in 47.22 with the Kevin O’Reilly-owned Furore S, and accounted for third place. Hadley was back in the line-up taking the next two placings. Riding his own Ganorad, he took fourth in 48.15. Just 0.15 of a second slower with Topspin, (48.30), Hadley also took fifth place. Amateur rider Adrian Gilmartin (AA), was fractions behind when he stopped the clock in 48.31 aboard Carnaval Cocktail.