THE much anticipated Avonmore Summer Classic Finals were held at River Lodge Equestrian in Co Wexford last weekend. The original dates of the finals had been scheduled for late August but due to adverse weather were moved and then the organisers struggled to find a date on the SJI calendar.

After some deliberation, Michelle Kenny and Rafael Sanctuary decided to run the show unaffiliated. Despite it clashing with the Grand Prix show in CoilÓg, Sunday’s €10,000 feature 1.45m Grand Prix attracted 24 combinations.

Jonathan Smyth decided to head to Co Wexford instead of trying to keep his lead in the National Grand Prix and it paid off when he won the Grand Prix with Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig’s 10-year-old gelding Mulvin Lui.

Bred by Vincent Loftus from Kildare, and by Luidam out of Castleconnor Baron (Baron De Chantepie), this was the 10-year-old’s first Grand Prix win of the year, signalling a return to form for the pair who featured many times in winning line-ups last year, including 1.50m victories in Balmoral and Ballinasloe.

Speaking after the win, Smyth said: “I’m delighted with Mulvin Lui winning the Grand Prix. He jumped two super rounds today and has been very consistent all year. I was able to watch Dermott Lennon go in the jump-off and he was very fast and tight everywhere, I didn’t think he could be beaten. I made my plan to go the same route as him and hoped I could use Lui’s bigger canter to make up some time between fences.

“He’s been quite unlucky in jump-offs since lockdown, having an unlucky rail but he’s an exceptional horse with a big future still ahead of him.

“Rafael, Michelle and the whole River Lodge Equestrian team deserve a lot of praise and admiration for this show. So much time and effort that goes into running even a normal show, but they went above and beyond to make this one of the best of the year.

“It was my first time at River Lodge and I was really impressed with just how great the arenas were and how much effort went into making it an enjoyable show for everyone. Everything about the show was perfect and they couldn’t be more helpful. Well done to all.”

Just 24 combinations lined out for the John Doyle-designed track. Of these, six produced a first round clear to progress to the timed decider. Smyth steered Mulvin Lui to a clear round, breaking the finish beam in a very quick 44.71 seconds to head proceedings.

Dermott Lennon had lodged an impressive round when he steered Victoria Loane’s Touchdown stallion Gelvins Touch to a double clear in 45.09, but they had to settle for the runner-up spot. Third place, and the only other double clear round, went to Kayleigh Soden riding another by the sire Luidam, her own gelding Ard Leaderman, clear in 50.42.

Fourth and fifth places were occupied by young riders Adam Carey (Quebello D) and Molly Hughes (Cassanova Van Overis Z) who had one fence down each. Cathal Daniels and Cappog Tomy claimed sixth place.