There were forty-five combinations to take on James Tarrant's course for the 1.30 YR class but the technical track soon thinned out the numbers for the three round competition. The last line, set on a tricky distance, left quite a few riders on an unlucky four faults. Also causing problems were the Holmestead fences which were quite spooky and were light enough that the slightest touch left a pole on the ground.
This meant that only five made it through to the second round.
Sure of a qualifying place, the five riders were jumping for money at this stage and Mark Flynn, winner of the Connaught Region 1.30 YR Qualifier, was the first to take on the shortened and raised course. Riding the Diamond Clover mare, Sure Flow, he repeated his earlier performance and put in a flawless clear.
Next in was Ger O'Neill with Steven Smith's Culmore, whom he only received the ride on last Monday, and he guaranteed a jump-off when steering the mare around without fault. Rosaleen Hyde followed with another faultless performance on Awbeg Duchess, having begged the ride off her sister Corinne, who is just out of young riders this year.
Mark McAuley and Luciano 175 were next to go and they too jumped clear to take their spot in the jump-off. Last in was Dominic O'Halloran but with a fence down he and Killossery Kruisette were left in fifth place and out of the jump-off.
Mark Flynn again played pathfinder putting in a classy round with Sure Flow, clear in a very fast time of 34.35, despite the mare throwing a few exuberant bucks on the way round. Ger O'Neill and Culmore had a problem with a turn and finished on nine faults when he also had a fence down and picked up two time penalties.
Rosaleen Hyde was next to take on the time and a good try saw her stop the clock at 39.40 but a pole down left her in third place. Mark McAuley was last to go and put in a great effort to catch the time, coming home clear but just not quick enough to take the victory from Flynn.
The 1.20mYR Qualifier as always attracted a huge entry with over a hundred competitors vying for the five qualifying places.
The track wasn't easy with the Holmestead fences again causing riders to exit the ring with faults, but still twenty-two competitors made their way through to the second round.
Fourteen riders managed a double clear but only thirteen went on to the jump-off when Ivan Dalton and So Lerina withdrew. Only meant to be giving the talented six year old mare a school for friend Conor O'Reagan, who was unable to ride due to a nasty fall in the practice arena caused by a loose pony, Dalton put in two super performances despite never having sat on the mare before.
First in for the jump-off was Gemma Phelan with the Clover Brigade gelding, Kilcannon Brigade. With the slippery ground conditions after a heavy shower of rain Phelan kept it flowing but without any very tight turns and set the standard, clear in a time of 44.08.
Next in was Athena Cranston-Traynor with IceT but a rub at the first part of the combination meant they left the ring with an unlucky four faults and out of the running. Greg Broderick and Ballypatrick Esperanza followed and Broderick put in a great round stopping the clock in a time of 42.15 and leaving all the poles up to take the lead.
Laura McCann in with her new horse, Nasdaq, also proved unlucky at the first part of the combination to finish on four faults. Dominic O'Halloran, eager to fill his quota, was next in with Ringwood Master, a horse by Master Imp. O'Halloran put in a super performance catching the time but finishing with a pole down when he turned back very tight to a vertical, leaving him as the fastest four faulter and taking the last qualifying spot.
Michael Orlandi and Errigal Shoe followed but they too finished on four faults and were denied a qualifying place, as was Yvonne Dunne with Slaney Developments Action Man. Next to go was Alexander Butler with Sea Dancer and a foot perfect round by them provided only the third clear in a good time of 42.29.
The next three riders all picked up faults and by the time Benny Kuehnle entered the ring it was plain to see that a clear round would go a long way. Riding the very impressive six year old son of Cruising, Beowulf, usually seen with Conor Swail, Kuehnle put in a flawless performance in a steady time of 46.75 securing a place for the stallion in Dublin.
Last to go and aiming to beat his own time was Greg Broderick on his third ride, Al Pacino. He finished in a good time of 42.32 but with the first part of the combination on the floor he had to be content with qualifying the one horse.
Meanwhile the pony rings were running and they also attracted big entries to contend for a hard earned place in Dublin. The 148 A class had over seventy entries but the technical course, with four water trays, left only six through to the second round meaning there were three ponies that qualified with faults in the first round.
It was decided by the judges that due to the hard ground only two rounds would be run and first in to the jump-off was Conor Leggett and Bundy, already qualified from Claremorris. They put in a good round but with the first part of the double of water trays on the ground they finished on four faults in a time of 42.60.Next in and quick to take the lead was Allison Irwin with Western Wonder jumping clear in a time of 40.88. moving up then was Jessica Burke with Bean Alainn and they put in a superb round coming back very tight to the double of water trays and managing to shave over a second off Irwin's time to take the lead.
In on her second ride then was Allison Irwin and with the first fence on the floor she decided to take it steady finishing on six faults in 46.20 when she picked up two time penalties. Mili McIntyre was next in and she put in a fantastic round with Lonesome Dove stopping the clock in a time of 38.50 and leaving all the poles in their cups to take the lead. Last to go was Jessica Burke this time with Claremount Sam and knowing exactly what she had to do she took every risk and galloped home clear in 38.23 to take the victory.
Following in that ring was the 138 A and it also turned out to be a very challenging course with a lot of disappointed riders leaving the ring early due to problems at the combination. Going to three rounds it developed into a hotly contested jump-off with only two riders managing a triple clear.
In the end it was Kelly Hegarty and veteran Trendy Royale who took the victory when last to go in the jump-off they stormed home in a time of 37.35. Conor Drain and Marskyfe Jake slotted into second place clear in a time of 42.93 while Richard Howley took third with four faults in a very fast time of 35.19.
The 128 A class also went to three rounds but it was Emily Turkington who took the honours with Temper Tantrum when she left all the fences standing in 34.85. Cali O'Donnell picked up second place with Dawn Princess and Aoife Oates took third with Czech. Fourth place went to Queen of Castlehill and Joanne Evans, last of the triple clears. Bertram Allen picked up fifth when he finished on three faults in 48.21 while Jordan Coyle took the last of the money in sixth with four faults in the fastest time of the day, 32.72.
Another class to go the three rounds was the 148 5,6&7 year old with over eighty entered to take on Tom Holden's testing course. The winner emerged as Rachel Sheehan riding Allihies Fir Baoi with three clears rounds to her name and a time of 34.09 in the jump-off. In second place was Caoimhe Gilmore with Outer Reach the only other triple clear. Aidan Killen and Kiltiera Fionn took third as the fastest four faulter.
The final class of the day was the 1.10m incorporating the Paul Behan Equitation, with the winners to be announced at a later date, with the Holmestead 1.10m qualifier being held the following morning. The next chance to qualify will be at the Leinster Region Qualifiers to be held at Mullingar Equestrian Centre.
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