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Kilkenny’s Ger O’Neill moved to the top of the Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Premier Series league table following an impressive victory in Sunday’s (2 August) second leg of the series at Mullingar Equestrian Centre.
O’Neill was riding Sinead Brennan’s MHS High Hopes (ISH) and was among 12 combinations who made it through to the second round jump-off, where he produced another clear round in 43.45 seconds to claim the top spot.
The Bennettsbridge native and the nine-year-old MHS High Hopes had finished as runners-up in the opening round of the HSI Premier Series at Barnadown in Wexford and now move onto 18 points at the midway point of the series.
Memorable day
Waterford-born Army rider Capt Geoff Curran finished second with the Minister For Defence-owned HHS Clinstown (ISH) after they left all the poles up in a time of 45.09.
It proved a memorable day from the Brennan family in Kilkenny as both of the top two horses were bred by the late iconic breeder Ita Brennan.
Kevin Gallagher partnered Ballypatrick Flamenco to a third place finish when clear in 46.07, while fourth place went to young rider Kate Conlon with Ping Ball.
Kate Derwin, 2019 Junior European Show Jumping Champion, and her mount AHG Whiterock Cruise Down had the fastest time of the jump-off, but with one pole on the ground the pair finished fifth, just ahead of Max Wachman and Lazzaro Delle Schiave in sixth.
The next round of the HSI Premier Series will take place at National Balmoral on 16 August, before the final round of the series at Portmore on 6 September.
Jonathan Smyth jumped to the top of the Underwriting Exchange Grand Prix leaderboard on Saturday (1 August) as he recorded his second series win in just two weeks at Mullingar Equestrian.
Riding the Ann Doherty-owned Crystal Tom, Smyth beat off seven others in what was a very competitive jump-off. Going towards the end of the draw in the TRI Equestrian-sponsored class, he delivered the winning round of clear in 34.10 seconds. This result means that the Tyrone rider tops the overall leaderboard on 28 points, eight points ahead of his closest rival, Kilkenny’s Susan Fitzpatrick. Smyth and Crystal Tom were second in Barnadown and claimed victory in Cavan last week.
Bred by the late Anthony Doherty, Crystal Tom is a 10-year-old gelding by Silvano and out of the Graf Magna sired dam, Lady Graf.
It was a tough competition, with just four double clears in the eight rider jump-off.
Close competition
Very little separated the next placing as Meath’s Cian O’Connor answered all the questions aboard Careca LS Elite, in a time of 35.54, to claim the runner-up spot.
The talented nine-year-old gelding is a new addition to O’Connor’s string. The combination made their competitive debut just over one week before this at the River Lodge Equestrian Summer Classic in Wexford.
Bred by M. Rodrigo Padilla Olvera, Careca LS Elite is by Carusso LS and out of Rebeca LS.
O’Connor’s student, Max Wachman joined him in the line-up as he took third place with the Coolmore Showjumping-owned Brooklyn De Hus, when he kept all poles in their cups in a time of 36.86.
Placed in the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer tour the day before, Brendan Murphy picked up another rosette in this line-up. Riding the Alan Roberston-owned Immun Ocean Ogara, he crossed the line with nothing to add in 38.02 seconds for fourth place.
The next two placings were taken by Kenneth Graham. The northern rider delivered his best result with his own Beir Bua, when he stopped the clock as the fastest four faulter in 38.21 for fifth. He took another share of the prize fund, when he recorded four faults with the William Lapsley owned George, in a time of 45.15.
It was announced last Thursday that the 2020 FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses, due to take place in Lanaken, Belgium from 16-20 September has been cancelled.
This will have a considerable impact on the Irish and indeed the worldwide show jumping industry, with the championships acting as a vital shop window for trading top-quality young horses.
In a statement, organiser Judy Ann Melchior said: “Until the last minute, the organisation tried to redraw the plans and create an event that would be as safe as possible for everyone; for riders, breeders, visitors and employees as well as for the horses.
“The decisions taken during the Belgian Security Council of 27 July, however, obliges us to cancel this year’s edition of our beloved event.
“Although it is with regret in our heart, but of course the organisation respects the measures taken by the government in function of general public health.”
There has been a fantastic response from the worldwide hunting community to the International Virtual Hound Show with entries received from 250 hunting packs from seven countries, including Ireland, UK, France, Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia.
The judging panel has been selected from across each country including Ireland. Hunt followers can now view the Virtual Hounds Show running until 4 September on the organiser’s web site virtualhoundshow.com and on their Facebook page.
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