DONEGAL’s Tyrone Flanagan and the Ruairi Holmes-owned Coloo Colin took the top honours in the 1.20m Speed Championships at Portmore Equestrian last Saturday when fastest of 20 clears from a starting field of 45 in a time of 54.46 seconds. Young rider Jodie Creighton took the runner-up spot with the six-year-old Glenaguile View, crossing the line in 56.31 while Edward Little was fractions behind with Bob Sweeney’s Ardragh Cordubh in 56.47 for third.

Nicole Kershaw emerged victorious in the Bluegrass 1.35m Grand Prix when she delivered a double clear with Lisa Rosbotham’s Lotus Van’t Nachtegalhof in 36.09. Just a second behind was Aoife Dooley who partnered Marguerite Ryan’s Cavalier Teaca to a clear in 37.09 for second. Jonathan Smyth and the Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig-owned Mulvin Lui also featured in this line-up taking third, clear in 37.40.

Winners of the four-year-old championship were Kathryn O’Hagen and SKB Rarity when they were awarded 100 points. Bred by Sarah Burns, the mare is by Luidam out of the Jacomar-sired Curious Comet. Sharing second place was Robert Harrison and Jennifer Torrens on 98 points. Robert Harrison was riding his own Cornet Obolensky-sired gelding Lagans Cornet, while Torrens was riding the Harry Marshall-owned Power Puff (by Diamant de Semilly).

Good day for Creighton

Jodie Creighton was back in the winnings, this time taking fifth place in the five-year-old championship. Riding The Conquistador, she was fastest of five double clears in 32.34. Bred by Dieter Kellermann, this gelding is by Carrera VDL out of the For Pleasure-sired Verb.Pr.St. Taking the runner-up spot here was junior rider Matthew Devlin and Carrickview Cheap Thrills, clear in 32.74, ahead of Shannon Robinson and JKS Vienna (33.28).

Creighton’s day just got better when she also took the win in the six/seven-year-old championship. Riding Gortacar Stables’ Gortacar Suspicious Minds 005, she was fastest of seven double clears in a time of 31.02.

The seven-year-old gelding was bred by Ralph Morgan and is by O.B.O.S Quality 004 out of Walterstown Girl. Taking the runner-up spot in a time of 32.74 was Meath’s Gerard Clarke and Castleforbes Gillian (6yo). Not content with this, Clarke took third place with Castleforbes Fedora (7yo), when they stopped the clock in 32.98.