JONATHAN Smyth guided Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig’s Mr Kannan Ball to win the Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series seven-year-old final at National Balmoral on Sunday.

The gelding is by Kannan out of Amber Beach (Beach Ball), bred by Declan Taggart, and beginning to step up the levels nicely.

This is his second win in the series having taken the victory in Cavan at the end of May. He finished in third place in the 1.35m Grand Prix in Omagh recently and won the 1.30m Portmore Spring Championships in April.

The pair posted a jump-off time of 45.43, to finish ahead of their closest rival Caltra Classic (Sligo Candy Boy x Cult Hero) in 46.27. Ridden by Clare Abbott, she is owned by Sarah Riley and was bred by Seamus Cawley. This duo are also developing well; they were runners-up in the Spillers six and seven-year-old championships in Balmoral in May and won the Bluegrass 1.35m Grand Prix in Portmore in April.

HHS Tokyo (Z Seven Ascot x Catoki) and young rider Molly Hughes Bravo slotted into third place for owner/breeder Marion Hughes, while Emma O’Dwyer riding her own Cormac McKay bred Carrickview Emerald K (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Cruise On) slotted into fourth.

Marti Rudd’s home-bred Monbeg Ruby (Diamant de Semilly x Boherdeal Clover) was guided into fifth by Tomas Doyle.

The sixth and final place went to Oliver Glancy riding his own Clonterm Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky x Lux Z) who was bred by Brian Duff and was the fastest four-faulter.

Six-year-olds

Cork’s Shane O’Reilly won the six-year-old HSI Studbook Series final with Brian McConville’s BWE Vain Hero after they posted a jump-off time of 45.91 in the 10-way decider. By Ugadi Hero Z out of Vain Of The Lowlands (Darco), she was bred by her owner.

Patrick Hickey was second with Silverteal Indigo (Emerald van’t Ruytershof xLux Z) owned by Simon McCarthy and bred by Paschal McCarthy, stopping the clock at 46.65.

Molly Hughes Bravo and her parents home-bred HHS Mercedes (Can Ya Makan x Couletto) finished in third, ahead of Rock Warrior (Casalla La Silla x Castor) in fourth place for owner/rider/breeder Max O’Reilly Hyland.

The duo of Shane O’Reilly and owner/breeder Brian McConville also took fifth place with their other mare, BWE Special Rose (I’m Special De Muze x Camilo De Haar Z) while Marti Rudd rode her own Monbeg Sapphire (Sheikh it x Landetto) into sixth.

Five-year-olds

The five-year-old final HSI Studbook series was divided by seven double clears. They were Dylan Savage riding SVS Symphony (Comme Il Faut x Air Jordan), Castlefield Duchess (Conthragos x Madame del Gardesano) and Katie McEntee in 52.46, LCC Dunard Lady Dominator (Dominator 2000 Z x Captain Clover) and Annie Courtney Cadam, Jump The Gun (I’m Special De Muze x Master Imp) ridden by Nicholas Connors, Brendan Murphy and OKE Dixieland Rock (Elvis Ter Putte x Cobra), Frankly Freda (Valent x Cruising) ridden by Rachel Thompson, and Ger O’Neill with Castlefield Dancer (Presley Boy x Chacco Blue).

Four-year-old final

Mary Boland’s Dutch-bred Orange de Baugy (Dominator Z X Barbarian) won the Neat Sporthorses and D & K Jewellers four-year-old championship at National Balmoral, earning first place on a score of 106.67 under rider Abigail Boland.

The top mark was over six points ahead of second-placed ESI Othello (Ganesh Hero Z x Tygo) on 100.33. Bred by Ennisnag Stud he is owned and ridden by Michael Roche.

Edward Little and his own AKD Carnlea Blue (Chacoon Blue x Cardento) scored 99 to take third for breeder Nicholas Dillon.

The Bridget Connolly-bred CSF Tia (Tyson x Ars Vivendi) was fourth for owner/rider Jodie Creighton on 96. Tom Hearne was fifth with Balou Mena Clover (Balou Mena Gii x Clover Brigade), bred by George McCullough and owned by Keonan Stables, on a score of 95.33, while Rosconnell Tango (Tyson x Goodluck VDL) bred by Mairead Lacy, ridden and owned by Keith Ennis scored 92.34 for sixth.