Galway riders leave major mark on the Dublin Horse Show

THRILLS and heartbreak coloured the mood of Connacht showjumpers at the recent Dublin Horse Show. Sixty-two horses and ponies from the region made their way there following endless rounds of qualifiers up and down the country.

On Day One, John McGuinness from Mohill qualified on the double for the 6-year-old Championship, riding Tara Cullen's Cracker Camiro and Cathal Farrelly's Farrelly's Spirit.

Connacht’s 128 and 138 pony riders did not get any ribbons but Tim McDonagh from Craughwell (Imagine if One) and Cormac Hanley from Claremorris (Moy Dancer) qualified for the 148 Pony Championship. Also qualifying that day was John Enda Lee's Westside Ranger ridden by Eoin McMahon. John Enda comes from Headford.

Day Two saw a great start for Olga Burke from Ardrahan who won the second qualifying leg of the 128 Championship, riding Simone Barry's The Nut Cracker. Cian Melia from Galway, riding Kieran Hawkins's Bungowla Bua, also put up an excellent performance when winning the first qualifying leg of the 5-year-old Championship, while Jason Sweeney from Ballina excelled himself by qualifying both his ponies, Cappuccino lV and Sakama Chezni, for the 138 Pony Championship.

The Third Day had an 8am start in the Main Arena for the previously-mentioned 138 Pony Championship where Jason Sweeney was Connacht’s sole representative. Unfortunately, he finished just out of the ribbons.

The 148 Pony Championship followed and Westside Ranger, ridden by Eoin McMahon, was placed fourth with Cormac Hanley (Moy Dancer) and Tim McDonagh (Imagine if One) finished seventh and eighth respectively.

Over in the Simmonscourt Arena, Claremorris's Shane Goggins finished second with Gabriel Mullins's Claddagh Cruise On, with Cathal McMunn (Beltra), riding Michael Culligan's One Tim, comoing third in the 5-year-old Championship qualifier.

The second qualifier for the 4-year-old Championship saw the highest point-scoring horse being Codarco, a stallion by Darco, bred by Thomas O'Brien from Athenry and ridden by David O'Brien. The fifth highest scorer was Breda McMunn's Flash Diamond ridden by Cathal McMunn.

The first Young Rider 1.10-metre qualifier was held on Day Three. Barry McCormack from Coolaney, riding Gerry McCormack's Silver Tycoon, jumped spectacularly to finish in second place just 0.68 of a second off the winning time.

Michael Duffy (Turloughmore) saw his first win of the show when riding Kathryn Duffy's Killard Horizon in the Young Riders 1.30 metre class. He was 1.26 seconds faster than his nearest rival.

In the Main Arena, immediately after the Aga Khan Nations Cup, Olga Burke prepared herself and The Nutcracker for the 128 Pony Championship. The course was big and strong and only four competitors jumped first-round clears. Just one fence denied, Olga her place in the jump-off, but no doubt she'll be back next year. 

Day Four and Shane Goggins, last to go in the jump-off of the 1.10 metre Young Riders' qualifier on Kevin Satchwell's Noddy Mountain, had a clear round in 30.92 seconds and finished in fifth place, thus qualifying for the Championship.

The Young Rider 1.20 metre class saw Cian Melia with a fast four-fault round also finish fifth. He rode FFS Spellbound. The ardour of the Connacht competitors was evident in the Young Riders 1.30metre Championship despite the rain which fell at the start of the class.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.