National Championships

By Frank Mulvihill

The newly renovated Mullingar Equestrian Centre was the impressive venue for the National Pony and Young Riders championships this year. The Championships boasted a prize fund of €30,000 and played host to Five national leagues which had been taking place from April all over the country. Sarah Curran and Parma W were victorious in the Gowla Feeds Young Rider 1.20m title after beating Laura Brown, who was first into the jump off on her father’s Arran and had held the lead all the way to the very last rider.Lydia Glynn was also drawn last-to-go in her class and beat Ellen Sweetman’s time with her four year old pony Knock Black Prince to win the 128ABC Under-10’s Final.

In the Leinster Region 5/6/7 year-old Finders Championship Millie McIntyre got the better of Jessica Burke and later came 5th in the 148 AB Gain Championships, while Edel Kelly won the AON Insurance 5,6,7 Year Old Championship on her mother’s 5 year-old Attyrory Goldstar.Shane Goggins became  the Gain 148 AB National Champion on  Mr Bozz  while Jonjo Bright on Marskyfe Jake pulled out all the stops and beat the Dublin Champion, Richard Howley, for the 138 championship title. Peter Moloney winner of the Equestrian World of Maynooth 148 Championship in Dublin, won the Primecourt 148 AB title, finished 3rd in the 1.30 Young Riders and 2nd in the 1.40 Young Riders Grand Prix which made him the leading money winner of the show.Shannon McKenzie and Spinnelli were the winners of the 128 AB Championship and took home a lovely saddle courtesy of sponsors Mazar’s and Equestrian Direct Sales.Lisa Priestly, the winner of the Turlough Nurseries Junior 1.10m Championship, also won the Holmstead Saddlery Young Rider 1.10 Championship on her father’s 5 year-old mare Dolly’s Buzz , while the 1.20m Young Rider Championship and the Brooklands Bedding 1.30 Young  Rider Championship went to Alexander Butler on Esther Trenier’s Half Twelve and Bronagh Stevenson’s’ Sea Dancer, respectively.The Young Rider Championships came to a climax with the Tiffin Developments 1.40 Young Rider Grand Prix which was won by Aishling Byrne and Deerpark Cruising. Aisling had previously been 2nd in the 1.20 Young Rider Championship on Glen Amber.