SHOW JUMPING

Emer Bermingham

The Cavan Equestrian Indoor Championships came to an exciting close last Sunday night with the GAIN Horse Feeds/ Alltech Autumn Grand Prix taking centre stage.

Taking the honours and the €4,500 prize in the host-sponsored class was Alexander Butler riding Vimminka. As in previous years, the opening round of the series at Cavan attracted a large following and this year was no different as it boasted a strong start-list of 85 combinations.

With a strong field lining out, the course was up to standard and in the first round riders faced a technical course which included a water tray and a treble combination. In the jump-off, the course was quite twisty and those with a win in mind needed to take the tight lines early, in particular in the turn back to the double at three.

As expected, with what turned out to be very close class, the winning round was delivered at the midway point. Speed merchant against the clock, Alexander Butler meant business from the start when taking a very tight turn back to the double with Vimminka, this matched with a daring gallop down the penultimate line saw them stop the clock in 34.71 seconds.

Next in, riding Contino 56, Matt Garrigan had his foot firmly to the floor and although he took a stride out to the last, their time of 41.14 saw him slot into third. Edward Doyle riding Derryinver Luxury Cruise kept all the poles in place in 41.64, which proved good enough for eventual fourth.

Eddie Moloney opted to take the longer line back to the double with Tonagh Trip The Lights, but despite a strong gallop home, a clear in 41.74 saw him take fifth, ahead of Kevin Gallagher and Alvarez, who were clear in 44.33.

The Autumn Grand Prix defending champion John Floody had a win in mind. Setting off strong with the big striding Ballynock Diamond, he negotiated a series of good turns, but a slower time of 38.61 saw him fill the runner-up place.

INDOOR DERBY

Another firm favourite on the schedule, the 1.40m Snaffles Bar Indoor Derby attracted its usual big crowd last Friday. Following a nail biting class, victory went to Emily Turkington and Willem. First to go in the four-way jump-off, the county Tyrone native took a series of tight lines and a daring gallop to the planks saw her lodge the winning 29.75 seconds.

Next to go, riding Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh, Liam O’ Meara took a similar path to the leader, but, despite a strong challenge, his time of 29.80 proved only good enough for the runner-up spot. Visiting rider Graham Babes kept everything in place with Boucheron, albeit in a slower time of 29.89 for third. Max O'Reilly Hyland proved out of luck when incurring eight faults with Dorado in a time of 72.54 for eventual fourth. Paddy O’ Donnell and Minority Report took fifth place when fastest of the four faulters in the first round, ahead of Kilkenny rider Jack Ryan and Cavalier Tecca.

SECOND WIN

On Saturday, winner of the six and seven-year-old Hankook Cavan Classic Final was Alexander Butler riding James Egan’s seven-year-old Zapatero VDL-sired gelding Eldorado. The combination lodged the winning round of clear in 28.25 seconds.

On Sunday, victory in the Stratroy Milk-sponsored four-year-old Championship went to Kenneth Graham and Hyves-Onde W when they were awarded a score of 160.3. In the five-year-old Crystal Hotel Classic Final, leading the victory lap was Miley Dunning's Luxtapose, ridden by Joyce Veld.