IT was a busy weekend for amateur riders last week when they travelled in their droves to contest the two-day Cavan Amateur Championships.

On Saturday, riders were up for the challenge as 40 combinations contested the 90cm Welcome Stakes and taking the win when clear in 23.50 was Patrick Murphy with his own Lismon De Reve Cream. Murphy was chased home by fellow A rider Mairead O’Hara and WhatAReward, when she lodged a clear in 24.17.

Jade Donnelly (A) and Chomper Z were fractions behind (24.50) for third, ahead of Marie Molloy (A) and Doonard Melody, clear in 24.63. AA rider Jacqueline Murphy partnered her own five–year-old DHF Xanadu to a clear in 25.05 for fifth place, ahead of Mullingar rider Laura Murphy (AA) and Ballycoolan Con (25.11).

Colm Fitzpatrick and Maretto Flight, winners of the AA Section of the Schockemohle Indoor Derby at Cavan \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

Equillence/Cavalor Table C Speed

Leading the victory lap in the Equillence/Cavalor AA Table C Speed was Lisa Doyle and her own Corland’s Clipper when they put in a blistering clear in 46.29. Elisa Schweiger O’Connor remained within the 46 second mark, clocking 46.69 with Oilean Honey for second.

Winner of the Mervue Leinster league, Marie Hartley delivered a clear in 47.37 aboard Nikita Van Het Heidenhof for third place. Colm Fitzpatrick and Maretto Flight were fractions behind in 47.48 for eventual fourth. A clear from Ian Moore and Triple C (47.79) saw him take fifth, ahead of Dean Cotton and Imperial Darco Diamond (47.86).

Victory in the A section belonged to Edwina O’Connor and Ashwood Reggie when clear in 48.89. Taking the runner-up spot was Frances Kealey and Danny Boy II when they came home with nothing to add in 49.96.

Rachel Shaw and Leestown Vitaire were third (51.39), ahead of Joseph Moore and Master De Reve (51.85). Slotting into fifth place was Tom Hogan and Limmerick Jewel (52.55), while completing the top six was Joanna Hyland and Queen Lu (53.45).

Schockemohle Indoor Derby

A popular class on Saturday, the Schockemohle Indoor Derby saw 89 riders battle it out. Winner of the A section was Joanna Hyland when she delivered the best of six double clears with Queen Lu in a time of 28.65.

Jessie O’Flynn Hall was almost a second slower with MMS Loreal, in 29.40, to claim second place. Patricia Woods kept all the poles in place with Crissaun Just Joey (32.38) for third place, ahead of Leah Mahony and Moygannon April Diamond (33.52) in fourth. Accounting for fifth was Aimee McKenna and Aimee’s Diamond (34.10), ahead of Alan McCormick and Millridge Porthos who delivered the last of the double clears in this section in a time of 35.51.

Taking the win in the AA section was Colm Fitzpatrick and Johnnie Fitzpatrick’s Maretto Flight when they were the fastest of 12 double clears in the section, breaking the beam in 26.60. Louise Craig and Cherry Wine were fractions behind in a time of 26.72 to take second place. Alexandra Bailey and Callie LVS Z were clear in 27.39 saw them take third, ahead of Ben Keane and Jericho (27.78). Fifth place belonged to Darragh McMahon and Shalamar Cassino (28.90), while in sixth was Tara Brandon and Oilean Dunlop (28.97).

Sunday

THE action kicked off on Sunday with the 90cm Welcome Stakes (inc Sportmembers) and leading this victory lap was Jacqueline Murphy [AA] aboard DHF Xanadu when they galloped home clear in 26.99.

Clodagh Fitzpatrick (A) and Oxendene Rozi left everything in place in 26.99 for second, while in third was sportmember Pauline Burke and Danagher (28.84). Fellow sportsmember Ellie Ward and Ardnaglass Lizzy took fourth (28.86), while in fifth was Mairead O’Hara and WhatAReward, clear in 28.86. Aisling Donaghue (AA) and Belfields Captain completed this line-up when they came home clear in 30.96

Cavalor two-phase challenge

Claiming the win in the A section of Sunday’s two-phase challenge was Frances Kealey riding Jane Kealey’s Danny Boy II when they came home clear in 23.51. The runner-up spot was filled by Karen Pearson and Hanley News, clear in 24.29, ahead of Karen Boylan and Pinegrove Aro (25.08).

Laura Clinton and Furore S kept all the poles in place in 25.76 for fourth place, ahead of Robyn Hartley and RH Live For Now (26.04). Mairead O’Hara was back in the ribbons with WhatAReward to finish sixth (26.08).

Marie Hartley added to her already impressive season when she took the win in the AA section. Riding her own Nikita Van Het Heidenhof, she was one of 17 double clears in 23.39.

Tara Brandon added to her weekend scorecard as she took the runner-up place aboard Ice Cream VDT, clear in 23.84. Karen Broderick and Earl Greys Last Cruise’s clear in 23.91 saw them take third, while in fourth was Hannah McNiven and Odetta (24.00). Slotting into fifth was Lorna Conroy and Clontarf Annabella (24.34), while in sixth was Aine O’Gorman and Rincolla Tintean (24.64).

Verdus Grand Prix

The feature Verdus Grand Prix saw 60 combinations battle it out for the win. Joseph Murphy was knocking on the door all weekend and he made no mistake in section A of the Grand Prix. Riding Michael Murphy’s Master De Reve, he lodged the only double clear in the section in a time of 40.22.

Shauna Furlong put in a faster round with Clogrennane Diva, clocking 39.50, but four faults saw her take second. Third place belonged to Egle Zakaraite and Talbot Siss, when they finished on four faults in 41.79.

Slotting into fourth was Fiona Tansey and Talbots Lass, also finishing with four faults in 51.63, ahead of Darren Tracey and Glenties Greg Rebe (0/4 54.81). Emily Nelson and Madame Touchdown completed this line-up, carrying eight faults in 43.03.

Claiming the victory in the AA section was Sarah Kinnear and Elf Queen when they were fastest of nine double clears in a time of 37.14. Niamh McFall and Bay Of Biscay took second when they clocked 37.53, ahead of Marie Hartley and Nikita Van Het Heidenhof in 38.03.

Amateur young rider Aine O’Gorman and Rincoola Tintean added to their haul when they took fourth after coming home in 38.99. Also adding to her record sheet was Marie Hartley with Scarthill Vendi (0/0 39.29). A clear from Caroline Gaston aboard her own six-year-old was Miss Roma Kora was good enough for sixth place (39.40).