Show Jumping

Emer Bermingham

International jumping came to a close at Mullingar with the CSI2* as Clem Mcmahon and Aldaluck that led the victory lap in the 1.45m TRM Horseware New Heights Champions Series. Along with the lucrative prize fund of €24,600 this class also offered valuable world ranking points.

Owned by Charlotte Gibson, Aldaluck is a nine-year-old gelding by Aldato and out of My Mystic River. The gelding has been campaigned by Mcmahon since 2015 and prior to this was campaigned by Lucy Gibson.

Speaking after the class, McMahon said: “ We had this horse in Spain with us and he was very consistent with a few good wins at 1.45m level. I was hopeful coming to the show but in this game you can’t be too confident. I knew that he could be very competitive and that’s all we needed was a bit of luck on the day. He had a bit of a break after Spain and he was nice and fresh for the class today.”

DOWN TO THE WIRE

In total 54 riders went to post and, as in previous classes, course designer Mark McGowan got it just right with 14 combinations going through to the jump-off. Of those 14 that went against the clock half of those delivered double clears.

As expected this class came down to the wire and McMahon’s clever riding with Aldaluck saw him stop the clock in 42.62 to take the win. In second place was young rider Michael Pender and Casanova Van Overis Z who were just fractions behind in 43.86, ahead of Stacy Babes and Camillo VDL who also put in a faultless round in 44.53. Placed in the earlier international class, Francis Connors picked up another prize when he partnered Erne Lady Goldilocks to a clear in 45.71 for eventual fourth, ahead of Vincent Byrne and Hannibal V Overis Z who where fractions behind in 46.36. Cormac Rafferty and Kmr Benzini took the last slot in the top six line-up when they delivered a clear in 46.97 seconds.