Top spin from Sven Hadley to win 1.25m league

GALWAY’s Sven Hadley took the overall Duffy Sport Horses 1.25m Connaught Region League title at the Connaught Championships in Ard Chuain last weekend.

In what has been a hugely competitive league this season, Hadley and his own Topspin, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood by Etrusco, were six points clear at the top of the leaderboard going into Sunday’s final and a second place finish on Saturday saw them clinch the title.

Victory on the day was shared between Mark Duffy and his own seven-year-old Dohickie (Indoctro x Cruising), bred by Joseph Allen, and Brendan Murphy with Sandra Duffy’s Chiricco 2 (Chin Chin x Figaro). Both combinations broke the beam in 32.63 seconds.

Hadley was second ahead of Junior rider Conor McLaughlin and Ray McLaughlin’s Shaqiri in third, with Shane Goggins and the eight-year-old Killossery Blue Kruise, owned by Denis Francis Comer filling fourth place.

1.15 final

Thomas O’Brien from Galway Equestrian Centre claimed the Oil Direct-sponsored 1.15m Development League. Second on the leaderboard going into the final, trailing Jessica Lee (Harry Beau Bay) by just four points, a runner-up finish on Saturday with Liz Hodgins Carramore Charlie saw him secure the league win.

Amateur rider Orla Dixon won the class aboard her own ultra-consistent 16-year-old mare Prada Royale.

The combination also won Saturday’s Equine Warehouse-sponsored Amateur Power and Speed class when best of eight double clear rounds in a time of 29.63, ahead of Jean Gilligan and Calimero in second (0/0 31.31).

Flesk wins league

A huge supporter of the Connaught Region, Martin Flesk sponsored and won the Martin Flesk Heating and Plumbing Connaught Region Amateur League after a hard fought battle with Paul Tarpey.

Just six points parted the two AA division riders ahead of the final leg and despite Tarpey winning Saturday’s final with Aisling Donoghue’s She Lux Quality (OBOS Quality x Lux Z), Flesk held on to win the league when finishing second with his mare Killuppaun Magic (Hermes De Reve x Cavalier Royale).