THE much-anticipated Irish Farmers Journal-sponsored Amateur A Final took centre stage at Mullingar on Sunday with 35 hopefuls going to post. Taking the 2023 title was Lorraine MacGuinness and Horseware Kinmar Night.

Following a good season, MacGuinness, who is no stranger against the clock, partnered the 14-year-old mare to a clear in a time of 34.54. Amongst this duos good results this year was finishing sixth in the amateur championship at the Dublin Horse Show. More recently, they claimed the 1.10m Classic at Barnadown the previous week, seeing off the challenge of over 100 combinations.

Hotly contested

Traditionally this class is hotly contested, and this year was no different as 18 combinations booked their place against the clock and eight of those maintained clean sheets in the second round.

Mary Flynn and Balrowan Chilli Z came close to catching the winner, coming home in a time of 34.98 to take the runner-up spot. Audrey Cullen and Grayson also put in a foot-perfect round, but in a slightly slower time of 35.46 for third place.

Slotting into fourth when clear in 35.92 was Jimme Quirke [A] aboard his own six-year-old Dream Bird in a time of 35.92. Fifth place belonged to Edel Kelly and Agustina, when they kept all the poles in place in a time of 36.10. Completing the top six line-up was Maelys Brunier and Divina Du Mont, who crossed the line, clear in 37.06.

Amateur Leinster League Final

Winner of the Amateur Leinster League Final jump-off class was Marie Hartley [AA] and the reliable Scarthill Vendi. They produced the fastest of the clears in a nine-way jump-off in a time of 31.93. The top four riders in the line-up were made up of AA riders. Hartley’s closest rival Laura O’Connor came home almost six seconds slower (38.39) aboard her own DS Little Missy. Fractions behind O’Connor was Caroline Ryan and Primo Pandora, clear in 38.64 for third place.

Not content with the win, Hartley also took fourth place with Nikita Van Het Heidenhof when she was fastest of the four faulters in a time of 32.79.

Hadley dominates

It was a worthwhile trip to Mullingar for Galway’s Sven Hadley who took the top three places in Sunday’s 1.20m speed class.

Riding Patrica Grimes’ Siobhra, he clocked the winning round in 64.70.

He returned to take second place with his own Sumas Taloubet (66.27) and third with Axel Verlooy’s six-year-old Royal Emerald QC (67.76).

Fourth place was filled by junior rider Aine Shorthall and Killerisk Can Ya (69.31), ahead of Maria Hartley and Nikita Van Het Heidenhof (69.57). Sixth place belonged to junior rider Jack Murphy and Ballinteskin Gaia (71.66).