COMMANDANT Gerry Mullins gave early morning observers at the Kerrygold Horse Show yesterday a preview of the form that would bring him international success later in the day. Last to go in the jump off for the Grades B and C national championship Mullins pursued this title with characteristic determination.
Despite his predictions that the small dimensions of the course would lead to a race against the clock in the second round just four other riders joined the Army officer in the timed round.
Chasing the target of a clear round in 34.40 seconds set by Francis Connors (Sure Coin), Mullins rode a superbly judged round which got Carraig Dubh's nose across the line in 33.76 and earned them the Rockbarton trophy - a fitting reward for Mull ins, who rode the horse of the same name to many triumphs in the Ballsbridge arena.
A challenging track, which included a problematic line from the open water to an upright, reduced the field for the six year old championship from 12 starters to just two for the timed round. David Conlon and Rossmore Paddy chalked up eight faults on their second appearance in the arena, which took the pressure off Denis Flannelly and Curraghkill Can I and allowed them to score an uncontested victory with their steady clear in the second round.
The course designers were more lenient in setting their test for the five year old finalists, and as a result, all but two of the 12 runners progressed to the jump off. Michael Buckley, third last to go with the talented chestnut, Carling King, turned in the fastest clear to depose early leaders Shane Breen and Cruise Star.
The Grades D and E championship went to a six horse battle against time, in which the winning round was ridden by Seamus Hayes with Mill Sapphire. This mare, owned by Noel C. Duggan, is the progeny of two Irish international performers, being by the stallion, Cruising, out of Mill Ruby, the mare ridden to a speed class win yesterday by Commandant Mullins.
