Along with hosting the most prestigious young horse classes on the national calendar, the Irish Breeders Classic at Barnadown also hosted the finals of the TRM/HSI New Heights Premier Series, the SJI National Grand Prix and the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour.

The final of the 1.35m Mervue Leinster Summer Tour took centre stage at the Co Wexford venue on Friday. 82 combinations went to post and of those seven delivered double clears. Francis Connors lodged the winning round with Capitol Cruise. Kenneth Graham and George filled second place. Taking third was Ailish Connolly and Eletta Molino.

Following a competitive tour, Paddy O’Donnell claimed the 1.35m Mervue Equine leading rider prize. O’Donnell finished on 48 points. Francis Connors finished second on 33 points. Riding Minority, O’Donnell also won the horse-rider combination prize.

The Pro Am prize and Ian Fearon Bursary went to Declan McEvoy. The leading young rider award and the Bertram Allen Bursary was awarded to Thomas Foley.

SJI National Grand Prix

Riders contested the final of the SJI National Grand Prix on Saturday. Defending champion Liam O’Meara retained his title with Mr Coolcaum. O’ Meara dominated the league recording five wins and placing in 14 rounds.

Bred by Kevin Farragher, Mr Coolcaum (ISH) is 14-year-old gelding by Coolcaum Hill out of the Indian Ruler mare Ranch Lady. Produced by O’Meara, the gelding was had a consistent record at Grand Prix level over the last three years.

Not content with winning the league, the Tipperary rider also took the runner-up spot with Curraighgraigue Jack Take Flight. Bred by Baden Powell, Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight is a 10-year-old by Jacomar out of the Errigal Flight-sired mare, Curraghraigue Errigal.

Darrly Walker finished third in the league with Kiss N Fly. Owned and bred by Laura Durkin, the nine-year-old gelding is by Guidam and out of Coolamber.

O’ Meara may have dominated the series, but the final round, sponsored by Ballypatrick Stables and O’Reilly Hyland Real Estate, went to Captain Geoff Curran and Drumiller Lough. Bred by Paul Dillon from Down, the 15-year-old gelding Drumiller Lough, is by Heartbreaker and out of Pearl River.

Coming off the back wins at Dublin and Millstreet, Michael Pender jumped a clear round to finish second with HHS Burnchurch. Adrienne Dixon and Killossery Kaiden completed the line-up in third. Bred by Frank and Laura Glynn and now owned by BG Equine, Killossery Kaiden is an eight-year-old gelding by Lux Z and out of Killossery Kruisette.

As a six-year-old Killossery Kaiden was crowned six-year-old league winner of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Showjumping Series and went on to take a gold at Lanaken under the command of Ger O’ Neill.

New Heights

Captain Geoff Curran added to his success when he won the final round of the TRM New Heights Champion Series. Riding Ringwood Glen he was fastest of the three double clears. Bred by Ray O’Reilly from Cavan, the 14-year-old gelding (VDL Arkansas x Kilglass Pennistone), was produced by Ringwood Stud.

Ringwood Glen has had much success since moving to the Army Equitation School, both under the command of Michael Kelly and now with Curran.

Francis Connors recorded another good result finishing second with Erne LadyGoldilocks. The final clear came from Greg Broderick and Duco for third. Broderick, like O’Meara, took the league title for the second year running. The Breeder Prize was awarded to Harold McGahern, owner of Rincoola Rua.

IRISH BREEDERS CLASSIC

The four-year-old division went to Catherine Thornton riding Coachella. Bred by Tom and Linda Magee from Armagh, she is by Ustinov and out of the Cruising-sired mare, Icing.

It was been a great season for Kilkenny young rider, Jack Ryan as he clocked up a series of results on the national circuit. Along with taking the young rider championship title, he also featured in Dublin and is on the team travelling to the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for young horses at Lanaken.

Ryan once again demonstrated his talent in the senior arena, as he won the five/six- year-old final riding BBS McGregor. Owned by his mother, Marguerite, the gelding is by Cardento and out of a Mark Twain sired mare, Random Chance.

Ryan also won the seven and eight-year-old final with Anne Marie Fagan’s Essenar High Hopes. Bred by Ardn Deters, the Danish gelding is by Phin Phin and out of an Indoctro sired dam, Leni-Jo.

James Hogg partnered Intuitive into second when clear in 40.56.