SUNDAY saw Barnadown Showjumping host the Young Rider and Children on Horses qualifiers for the 2023 Dublin Horse Show.

In excellent form, Stephen Gibbons made the long trip from the West and it paid off when he claimed victory in the 1.35/1.40m young rider decider. Riding Casslus Z, he lodged a triple clear in 40.74.

Alice Wachman also kept all the poles in place with Atlantic Du Seigneur, albeit in a slower time of 41.49, for second place. Emily Moloney will be making her return to the RDS when she took third place with Temple Alice, clear in 41.81, ahead of seasoned RDS rider Coen Williams and Elsandro Du Bois, clear in 41.94.

Timmy Brennan was fractions behind with GCS Ita in a time of 42.06 for fifth place, while Jodie Creighton and the eight-year-old Gortacar Suspicious Minds 005 completed the line-up when sixth in 43.39.

1.25/1.30m

In the 1.25/1.30m Young Rider qualifier, it was Patrick McGrath who took the win aboard Larcata Wi Ro Z when they delivered the only double clear in a time of 44.49 in a five-way jump-off. Max Foley lodged a very fast round with Hermes De Cavalier, but picked up four faults in 38.32 which saw them take the runner-up spot.

Slotting into third place when also carrying four faults in 41.09 was Jack Murphy and MHS Oklahoma. Fourth place was filled by Molly Taylor and Hard To Beat, when they incurred a technical elimination. Maisie Adams suffered a fall with Quina DW, but slotted into fifth place, ahead of Jamie Hargaden and Geron RS after they withdrew from the second round.

1.10/1.15m

The 1.10/1.15m saw 93 combinations going to post, with seven delivering triple clears. Taking the win was Matthew Conlon and the seven-year-old Ball Park when clear in 40.89. Little divided the next two placings as Luke Cunningham and the seven-year-old Gotham De Romy came home in 41 seconds, ahead of Harry Wood and the six-year-old ESI Alexander, in 41.48.

Evan Burke also remained within the 42-second mark, clocking 41.72 with the six-year-old Castlefield Duke. Slotting into fifth place was James Connors Smyth and the six-year-old Dooneens Supreme in 43.22, while in sixth was Billy Sinnott and the six-year-old, Macgyver, clear in 43.49.

Children on Horses

There was a good turn-out for the Children on Horses division, with 40 combinations battling it out. From those, five triple clears were delivered. Leading the victory lap was Harry Rush on Beach Buggy when he came home in 44.17.

Rush was chased home by Conrad Sweeney and Domino Van De Valhoeve, who stopped the clock in 44.77. Accounting for third place was Alanna Keeling and HHS Blue Moon, clear in 45.81, ahead of Ciara Ryan and Chica of De Rocky Mounten Z (48.01). Lily Slattery delivered the last of the triple clears with Captain Candy Man in 48.39, while in sixth was Daisy O’Dea and Glytown Blake, who was fastest of the four-faulters in 44.56.