FOLLOWING an exciting second qualifier in Simmonscourt, 12 qualified amateur riders headed to the Main Arena last Saturday to contest their championship. With riders facing a technical track, just four combinations booked their place against the clock and of those, just one A rider – Darragh Killoran – was among them.

The jump-off track allowed riders to make up time throughout the course, in particular to the Longines oxer and then on the double. To be in with a real chance of victory, they needed a good turn from the rustic to the line home.