Cavan Equestrian Centre’s 21st annual show jumping championships took place last week and, as well as spectacular show jumping, the event provided a shop window for horses. Along with the elite foal sale (page 38), lots of horses were sold at the event with official reports saying over 40 found new homes – 15 going to the UK, 15 going to America and a further 10 sold on the domestic market.

With more than 3,000 entries, there was plenty to watch throughout the week. Qualifiers for the weekend’s finals were held from Tuesday to Friday. The first major show jumping event, the Snaffles Bar Cavan Indoor Derby, came to a conclusion on Friday. Out of the 40 starters, five jumped clear and into the second round. In the end, Lt David Power on the Minister of Defence’s Carrigoran proved unbeatable. Second went to Alexander Butler on Ladycastle Syndicate’s Vimminka, and third place went to Olive Clarke on Andrew Dunne’s Snipe.

6yo and 7yo

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Saturday evening’s Hankook Cavan Classic saw a huge crowd with 36 of the top six- and seven-year-olds in the country take their place in the final. Fresh from the World Championships in Lanaken, Belgium, Nicola Fitzgibbon on Dermot Forde’s Shantonagh took the honours in this class, jumping three clear rounds. Second place went to Cian O’Connor on Ronnoco Jump Ltd Aramis 573, and third place went to Catriona Fallon on Knighfield Equestrian’s Clane K.

4yo

The four-year-old final, sponsored by Joe Reilly Stratroy Milk, was judged by Ian Fearon, Eamon Rice and Paul Beecher. The winner was Stacey Babes on Wrenwood Stables’ SRS Dignity. Kato Van De Nachtegaele, ridden by Ross Mulholland, took second, with Olive Clarke on Arius De LaSee in third place.

Grand Prix

The grand finale of the championships was the Cavan Grand Prix. Sixty-three competitors battled it out for the €4,500 prize fund, sponsored by Gallagher/Mellor E2 Showjumpers. Twelve horses made it through to the second round. The track proved very challenging but to the delight of the spectators, the honours of the evening went to Alexander Butler on Ladycastle Syndicate’s Vimmika, jumping a very good clear round in 37.02. Butler also took second place, this time on Caroline Byrne’s Hallowberry Cruz. Third place went to Sophie Dalm on Amanda Dalm’s Vaillant S.

Broderick’s fine run continues

Tipperary’s Greg Broderick continued his remarkable run of form by winning the prestigious Cavan Crystal Hotel Classic for five-year-olds. The Thurles rider’s latest victory came after three rounds of demanding jumping at Cavan’s packed indoor arena with Broderick’s own gelding, Cartouche V Overis Z, who is by the stallion Chellano Z out of a dam by Diamant de Semilly, taking the winner’s rosette in a competition worth €6,500. Broderick also finished in the prizes with his second mount, Alberta Mist, who is owned by Caledonia Stables.

Broderick is the current Irish show jumping champion and had just returned from a successful spell in Arezzo in Italy where he made his Nations Cup debut for Ireland and also won three international classes with Noel Cawley’s Irish-bred mare Rincarina, while earlier this year he made history by winning all three young horse finals at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS.