IT WAS a busy week for Cavan Equestrian as they hosted the Cavan November Winter Festival, which traditionally has seen a packed house over the course of the week.

On Friday, the Welcome Stakes - 1.30m Table A Speed (1.25m-1.30m), which was sponsored by Francis Derwin Bloodstock, saw resident junior Jamie Clarke leading the victory lap when he partnered Victoria Clarke’s Marblearch to a clear in a time of 52.18 seconds. This 12-year-old gelding is by Lougherne Cappuchino and is out of the Dancing Boy- sired dam, Tiffcrum Majesty. He is also campaigned by Camryn Clarke with much success in the young rider ranks.

There was a massive entry of 115 combinations going to post and it came down to the wire, with 31 of those delivering clears. To be in contention of finishing in the top six, riders had to cross the line within the 57 second mark.

Less than a second behind the winner was Darryl Walker and My Greenfort Princess, when he kept all the poles in place in a time of 52.71. Owned by Marek Starzak and bred by Patrick O’Toole, the nine-year-old is by Ricardo Z and is out of the Kigali-sired dam, Soulina. This combination has proven very consistent at 1.20m level and has only just moved up to 1.30m, where they are demonstrating similar form.

Following her successful trip to Lyon CSIP PT, Kilkenny junior rider Emily Moloney took third place when she delivered a clear aboard GVS Goodwins Queen in a time of 54.19.

Not content with third place, Moloney also took fourth place with Capitol Cruis (Ard VDL Douglas x Cruising – Forest Mistral), when she answered all the questions for the second time in 54.75. Owned by Miriam Moloney and bred by Larry Costello, the 11-year-old mare GVS Goodwins Queen is by OBOS Quality and is out of the Master Imp-sired dam, Goodwins Babe.

Young rider Aisling McGuinness slotted into fifth place, when she crossed the line clear in 56.29 aboard Kilderrys Joint Venture. Owned by Hazel McGuinness, the 13-year-old mare is by Russel and out of the Cruising-sired dam, Sullane Sally. This pairing had claimed sixth place in the 1.30m in the Cavan October show.

There was a split second between the next placings, as Shane O’Reilly delivered a clear in 56.31 aboard the eight-year-old BWE Vain Of Diamant. Owned and bred by Brian McConville, the mare is by Diamant De Semilly and is out of the Darco-sired dam, Vain Of The Lowlands.

1.40m Jump-Off Challenge

Following their win in the SJI Autumn Grand Prix in Hollypark, Aimee Barry and Garryndruig Limoncello were back in the ribbons as they claimed victory in the €3000 1.40m - WKD Jump-Off Challenge (1.35m-1.40m), when fastest of six double clears in a time of 36.40.

Junior rider James Brennan and MHS High Hopes took the runner-up spot when they crossed the line less than a second behind in a time of 37.12. Bred by Ita Brennan, the 12-year-old gelding is by Quidam Junior 1 and is out of the Cavalier-sired dam Gowran Lady.

Lieutenant James Whyte came close to catching Brennan, clocking 38.33 aboard Hawthorn Hill for eventual third. Bred by Jerry Quinn, the 11-year-old mare is by Cardento and out of the Limmerick-sired dam, Tummery Limelight. This duo’s last good result was a fourth-place finish in the National Grand Prix at the Flavours of Fingal.

Clem McMahon accounted for fourth place aboard Harry Marshall’s Tango ET, when clear in 38.33. This mare is by Cornet Obolensky and is out of the Laughton’s Flight-sired dam, Juicy. McMahon took over the ride from Marshall at the end of August this year.

Little stood between the next placing as Elaine O’Neill and the nine-year-old Olympic ‘GL’ ‘FVD’ stopped the clock in a time of 41.91. Owned by Keith Ennis and bred by Francois Van Duffel, the Belgian warmblood is by Galisco Van Paemel and is out of the Bengale-sired dam, Glammer-Girl “H”fvd. This combination are no strangers to the line-up, having claimed sixth place in the 1.35m Autumn Championships in Cavan.

Completing the top six were Mark Cleary and the eight-year-old CBI Kylemores Cornet, when they were last of the clears in 43.18. Owned by Michael Hayden and bred by Aidan Carroll, the mare is by Cornet Obolensky and is out of the Diamant De Semilly-sired dam, Cenith M. Last month, the combination claimed fifth place in the Connolly’s Redmills Munster Grand Prix in Tipperary.