THE Simmonscourt stands were packed to capacity for the first of the Young Rider Championships on Friday morning, the 1.35m-140m category. Claiming the first title was Co Clare’s Junior European team gold medallist Coen Williams aboard Conthanja PS.

Speaking afterwards, Coen’s father Adrian said: “It was a fantastic week, in fact it has been a fantastic year. We would like to thank everyone who has helped Coen along the way. He is really dedicated to the sport and works very hard, he really deserves it. The mare is very special and is a top calibre horse. It is his first year in juniors and she has answered all the questions for him.” Owned by Williams Sport Horses, the 10-year-old mare is by Conthargos out of the Grand Step-sired Grand Ronja.

Of the 16 combinations that booked their place in the final, seven proceeded to what was a very exciting jump-off.

Double handed in the jump-off, Williams had his first look at the course aboard Elsandro Du Bois. He set off at a strong pace making up the time from fence one to two. He then negotiated a tight turn to the double and later on to the Irish Horse Board Oxer. A strong gallop to the last saw him set the target of clear in 37.18 seconds.

Next to go, Alex Finney also had her eye on the win as she took it on with MHS Style. However, despite a determined approach, two down in 36.04 saw her finish just out of the line-up in seventh place.

Kilkenny’s Emily Moloney delivered a foot-perfect performance with Temple Alice and her round of clear in 40.65 would see her take fifth place.

Maria Schou set off at a determined pace with Chandler 9 and took an extremely tight line to the IHB oxer, however she proved out of luck when faulting at the last, and her time of 38.77 saw her claim sixth place.

Junior European team gold medallist Eoin Brennan knew what was required to take the win as he took it on with Eskola M. Brennan put in a gallant attempt and was just one hundredth of a second off the leader at that point in 37.19, which would later see him take fourth.

The target was reduced again as Marta Hughes Bravo took every tight line with HHS Figero. In particular her route to the double and later to the Horse Sport Ireland oxer before heading home, saw her shave over two seconds off the target when clocking 35.15.

Last to go aboard his European mount Conthanja PS, Coen Williams knew that he only had one option if he wanted to retake the class from Marta. Throwing caution to the wind, he took the same lines as the leader, but it was the turn back to the last line that saw him clock the winning time of 34.71. As a result, Marta Hughes Bravo took second while Williams and Elsandro Du Bois finished in third.

Title for Foley

The 1.25m-1.30m Young Rider Championship on Saturday evening also went down to the wire with three of the four combinations that booked their place in the jump-off delivering clears.

Carlow’s Max Foley was first to go, and he negotiated a series of good turns with Hermes De Cavalier and delivered the winning round of 32.99 to claim the title.

Delighted with the win, Max said: “You never get tired of winning in Dublin. I have won there on previous occasions and it’s always a great honour. I was first to go, so I knew I had to set the target. I feel that I made up time to the last fence as I took a few strides out. I have only been riding the horse for a few months, but it didn’t take us long to gel. I would like to thank Michael and Aoife O’Neill for giving me the horse and to my family who supported me all the way and made it all possible.”

Emily Moloney also answered all the questions with Ian Smyth’s Capitol Cruise and kept all the poles in place in a time of 34.36 to take the reserve title. The combination also took third place in the qualifier on Friday.

The last of the double clears was delivered by Alice Wachman and Thijssen Sr Z in a time of 34.86 for third place. Conrad Sweeney proved out of luck with Sully when they finished on four faults in a time of 39.22 for eventual fourth.

Conor Gilmartin certainly proved out of luck when he failed to make the jump-off after incurring a single time fault with Brooklyn Nine Nine, but it did mean that he took fifth place in the line-up.

Taking sixth place when fastest of the four-faulters in the first round in a time of 64.53 seconds, was Lusk’s Aisling McGuinness and Kilderrys Joint Venture.

Triumph for McGrath

On Sunday the last of the championships to be contested was the 1.10m-1.15m division with 19 going to post. Claiming this title was Michael McGrath and Abbey Lagans. The five-year-old mare is by Lagans Obos Quality out of the Coevers Diamond Boy-sired Slievedodley Lady.

Speaking afterwards, Michael’s father Roger said: “The win was just fantastic. My father brought horses to Dublin and winning there is always special. We bought the horse from a very nice man called Diarmuid Hurley and he also sold the horse Mermus R Russel to its owners. Michael recently won a point-to-point, so it has been a good few weeks for him. I would like to thank Paul Beecher for his help and to Tholm Keane who stepped up to help him at the show.”

With a good standard in this division, it came as no surprise that 12 booked their place in the jump-off. First to go, Lucy Morton set the bar high when she delivered the first double clear with Cassclo Beach in a time of 33.22, which would later prove good enough for third place. The next double clear was delivered by Ellen Thomposon and LMK Monopoly in 40.23 for sixth place.

Morton’s lead looked under threat as Matthew Conlon took an extremely tight turn back to fence three aboard Ball Park, a good pace saw him come home clear in 34.47 for eventual fourth.

Next up, Michael McGrath had his foot firmly to the floor as he took it on with Abbey Lagans. A very tight turn back to the vertical at three and later a great turn back to the penultimate fence, matched with a daring gallop to the last, saw him clock the winning clear in 32.10 seconds. Charlotte Harding also put in an impressive round with Lisnamorrows Vancouver but a clear in 34.81 meant that she slotted into fifth place.

Penultimate combination Ciara Fives knew what she needed to do as she took it on with Mermus R Russel and a clear in 32.89 would see her secure the reserve title.