THE Connolly’s Red Mills International Spectacular saw a win for Ireland on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Show as Clem McMahon lodged the winning round with Derry Kingston’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Athea Clover Trend (Future Trend x Clover Clon VII), bred by John Joe Tierney.

In total, 31 combinations went to post and, from those 11 booked their place against the clock. McMahon posted the winning time of 38.50 seconds to secure the top prize of £1,320. Britain’s Carmen Edwards and Happy Valerie came closest to catching the winner when breaking the beam in 38.80.

A recent winner of a National Grand Prix in Ireland, Dermott Lennon slotted into third place with Bronte Stables’ nine-year-old ISH gelding Millview Cicero (Ciceri Z Van Paemal x Oklund), who was bred by show jumper Harry Marshall. The pair were clear in 39.52.

Winner of the first round of the SJI Premier Series in Barnadown a week earlier, Kevin Gallagher finished fourth with Max O’Reilly Hyland’s BP Limitless (Elvis Ter Putte x Laughton’s Flight ), when clear in 39.84. Louise Saywell added to her tally when she took fifth with Daniel (0/0 40.06), ahead of Cora Sharkey and Lisboy Mermus (Mermus R x Cruising) in 42.41.

Limitless

Irish riders claimed the top four placings in the 1.40m Clipmyhorse.tv International Accumulator on Friday morning. Rising the aforementioned Austin Broderick-bred BP Limitless, Gallagher recorded the maximum score of 65 in a time of 50.49 to take the win for Ireland.

Daniel McAlinden continued his excellent show when taking the runner-up place with AHG Whiterock Doctor Cruise; the pair also scored 65 in a time of 51.86. Susan Fitzpatrick also came home clear aboard Keatingstown Skorphults Joker, albeit in a slower time of 52.29 for third place.

Little stood between the next three places with all combinations recording the maximum score of 65. Commandant Geoff Curran and the Minister for Defence’s DHF Alliance (Ard VDL Douglas x Lux Z) crossed the line in 52.49 for fourth, ahead of Australia’s Jake Hunter and Sandra Duffy’s Incredible in 52.78.