Thousands of people flocked to Cavan EC’s 21st annual five-day International Horse Show, where a range of national and international classes kept the crowds on the edge of their seats.

The first international competition, Friday’s €2,000 Cavan Welcome Stakes attracted 56 combinations and was won by Alexander Butler on HHS Copperhead Cruise. Second place went to Gerard Clarke on Kellswater Crimson and third place went to Robert Harrison on Holly Castleforbes.

Saturday afternoon’s highlight was the Amateur Autumn Series final. This year the title went to Joanna Penfold on her own horse King Cruise, second place went to Aoife Maguire on her own horse Mane Attraction and third went to Brian Cassidy on his Iquem Du Plessius

Saturday’s first international class was a speed challenge, with a prize fund of €2,000 sponsored by Jim Derwin Bloodstock, Athlone.

Some 42 competitors took part and the overall winner was Gerard Clarke on Kellswater Crimson, second place went to Cormac Hanley on Captains Magic Touch and third went to Jordan Coyle on Amigo VH Winkenshof.

Cavan County Council sponsored the second international class, which had a prize fund of €4,000, with just over 40 taking part. The win went to Elizabeth Power on her own Doonaveeragh O One, Emily Short on Coco took second and Edward Doyle on Chirokko M was third.

Saturday’s events concluded with the entertaining Kingsland Equestrian-sponsored Puissance. Seven riders challenged over five rounds. It ended with brave joint winners jumping a whopping 2.15 metres, Peter Smyth on Cavalier Rusticana and Chris Megahey on Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier.

Sunday morning’s four-year-old final carried a prize fund of €1,000, sponsored by Euro Stallions and Robertson Equine. Twenty competitors took part in this class judged by Greg Broderick, Darragh Kerins and Robert Daly. Nicholas Butler took first place riding Ivor Broderick’s Goodluck VDL, second went to James O’Grady and Cathal McMunn’s Lucas Van De hellevoort, ridden by McMunn, and third went to Victoria Clarke on Maybay Dreamer.

With a total prize fund of €2,000, sponsored by The Farnham Arms Hotel, Jack Ryan took this international win on his mother’s Cavalier Teaca, with second place going to Jordan Coyle on Jim Maneely’s Amigo VH Winkenshof and third to Greg Broderick on his own MHS Automatic.

The final of the six and seven-year-olds was the last national class to take place, kindly sponsored by Radisson Blu Farnham Estate. The honours went to Jordan Coyle on Eileen McKinney’s Caroney Bridge Challenge, second went to Clem McMahon on Glen Leddy’s Indina River Van Perschoven and third to Tholm Keane on High Efficient.

Cavan’s International Grand Prix attracted 40 competitors for this €8,000 contest, sponsored by the Auction Night which was held during the Cavan Indoor Championships in September. Thirteen made it through to the second round. The honours went to Canada’s Rebecca McGolderick on her own Horation Van Erekan. Eddie Moloney on Douglas Hill took second place and third went to David Campbell’s Derryinver Luxury Cruise, ridden by Catherine Thornton.

John Floody was Leading National Rider and the Leading International Rider went to Jordan Coyle. (More Cavan coverage overleaf).