On Saturday, international jumping kicked off with 38 riders going to post in the Mosstown Stables-sponsored 1.25m Table A. It was a victory for the ladies as Vickie Anderson and Zack delivered the winning round, clear in 63.67 seconds. Damien Griffin was hot on the Anderson’s heels aboard Do Tell, but despite delivering a clear, his time of 64.20 saw him slot into second. Occupying third place was Suzanne Posnett and Queen of Clubs (66.35), while Sven Hadley and Cassana took fourth (66.42). Lady riders were back in the ribbons, with Nicola Fitzgibbon and Westland Ruby taking fifth (66.83), ahead of Olive Clarke and Electric Cruise (66.67)

It was another win for the ladies as England’s Emily Ward and King Mac led the victory lap in the 1.30m Bet Showjumping live qualifier, clear in 62.21. Kenneth Graham and Lenamore Donatella were fractions behind in 62.75. Emily Turkington scorched home in 64 seconds with Legend for third, while Jordan Coyle and Amigo VH Winnkenshof Z took fourth (64.06). Nicola Fitzgibbon was fifth with Castleforbes Tina (64.76) and sixth with Westland Ruby (64.76).

In the 1.40m class, Neal Fearon lodged the winning round and took home the lion’s share of the €3,000 on offer. Riding Peig Van Amerongen’s 12-year-old Grosso Z-sired mare Dee Boeken’s Grossos Roeschen, he left his rivals behind when he lodged the winning round of clear in 28.50 seconds. Wicklow-based Darryl Walker duly impressed as he partnered Cushions into the runner-up spot when clear in 28.57 seconds. Ger O’Neill was fractions behind with Go For It 2 (28.65) for third. Damien Griffin took his place in the lineup for the second time when claiming fourth with Tabby, clear in (28.70). Alexander Butler wasted no time with Hallowberry Cruz and crossed the line in 29.12 for fifth, ahead of Francis Connors and Hyperion (29.58).

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jammed-packed Sunday action

Sven Hadley took the honours in the first international accumulator class of the day with Cassana when he recorded the top score of 65 in 47.58 seconds. Almost two seconds behind was Olive Clarke and Active Cruise in 49.64. Little divided the next placing as Jonathan Andrew and The Hurricane delivered a clear in 49.97 for third, ahead of Ida Munberg and Edelweiss Van De Ronevallei in 50.22. Fifth place went to Damien Griffin and Castell (50.41), while Catherine Thornton and Lowhill Glenard Lad (50.43) for sixth.

Devenish Delight

There was plenty of activity around the arena for The Devenish Bet Showjumping live class. The 32 riders who qualified were split into four groups with the winner of each proceeding to the final round. In the first group, Nicola Fitzgibbon and Castleforbes Tina won when clear in 61.09 seconds. Francis Connors and Uskerty Diamond Lady took the second group, clear in 62 seconds, Kenneth Graham and Lenamore Donatella took the third group in 60.99, while Gerard Clarke and Zanibar V headed the final group in 63.16.

First to go in the final, Gerard Clarke set the bar high with a clear in 57.67 seconds, but his hopes were dashed when Francis Connors set the winning time of 55.60. Things didn’t go according to plan for Nicola Fitzgibbon as she incurred 12 faults with Tina in 60.38, while Kenneth Graham suffered a similar fate but in 62.34 seconds.

RDS Qualifier

The first qualifier for the RDS Puissance took place in the main arena with eight riders battling it out for the €2,000 prize. Following five rounds, three riders Jason Higgins (Hadine Van’t Zorgvliet), Daniel Coyle (Fanadwest Rebel) and Liam O’Meara (Cisero) cleared the two metre wall to share the spoils.

Studbook Series

Mullingar also played host to a round of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Showjumping Series, with the finals taking place on Sunday in the international sand arena. Jason Higgins aboard Mary Bolger’s Kilcannon Cavaquin (ISH) took the top spot in the seven-year-old final. Seven combinations made it through to the jump-off but, last into the ring, Higgins was one of only three to leave the fences standing in the fastest time of 44.24 seconds.

In the five-year-old final, nine combinations produced double-clears to share the €3,150 prize. In the six-year-old final, six Irish Sport Horses shared top spot. Full details on www.horsesportireland.ie

Ulster contingent on top in National Series

In a change to the schedule, the second international class incorporated the Horseware/TRM series. It was a class dominated by Ulster riders as they accounted for five of the top slots. Taking the honours was Daniel Coyle and Uptown Girl clear in 70 seconds flat. The penultimate rider, Catherine Thornton, also delivered a foot perfect round with Derryinver Luxury Cruise in 76.21 for second place. Kildare rider Edward Doyle didn’t hang about with Mullaghdrin Touch The stars, and a clear in 76.42 proved good enough for third.

It was another good result for the Coyles as Daniel’s brother Jordan partnered VDL Cassius to a clear in 79.86 seconds for fourth. Fifth place went to Gabriel Tunney and Lavish in 80.18, ahead of Kenneth Graham and Orbiting in 83.48 seconds.