Quinlivan closing in on O’Connor in IJM League
Sarah Kate Quinlivan is one rider who will not forget the show. Continuing her successful partnership with Billy Daly’s Newmarket Girl, the 22-year-old provided the only double clear in a six-horse jump-off for a popular win in Sunday’s grand prix. This followed her second place to Glenbeigh Army rider Lt Brian Curran-Cournane (Carraig Dubh) in the first of a league double-header at the Cork venue.
There was no doubting, however, that Robert Splaine was value for money in Sunday’s finale, Quinlivan’s fellow Cork rider pushing all the right buttons with Clarion Hotels Coolcorron Cool Diamond ... until the last fence, that is. His hopes of a win dashed, he was, nevertheless generous in defeat and quipped: “I remember her in her pram. I never thought she’d come here and beat me.”
The result moves Quinlivan to 76 points on the IJM TimberFrame League, just nine points behind Cian O’Connor.
Importantly, she has a 17-point lead on third-placed Shane Breen, with just five rounds remaining.
Her consistency, combined with O’Connor’s absence on international duty, must put her in with a good shout of taking the title.
The prestigious Boomerang Finder Championship for six and seven-year-olds was won by Mark Flynn with Ballinclover Boy. By Ballinvella, he was bred by Michael Courtney, Faha, Co Kerry.
Mayo rider Carl Hanley notched up a double, taking the championship for five-year-olds and six-year-olds with Bahrain Hill and Glamour Girl, respectively.
Niamh O’Connor won the seven-year-olds’ 1.20m championship for seven-year-olds and over on Bawnea M&M. Jim Derwin, riding Mustard Again, had over half a second to spare in taking the same competition for six-year-olds and under.
Two ponies carrying Tim Beecher’s Loughnatousa prefix fought it out in the 148cms A/B Final. Loughnatousa Bart (see below), ridden by David Blake and Loughnatousa Ron, with Peter Moloney on board, both four-faulted in the head-to-head, but Blake’s faster time - less than two-tenths of a second - ensured him victory.
The 138cms A/B Derby final went to Diarmuid Howley on Atlantic Jewel. In the 128cms equivalent, Alex Buller took the top two placings, producing the only double clears on I’m Otto and Star Spangled Banner.
* IRISH equines and drugs were again in the news this week, with the emergence in yesterday’s Irish Examiner of a new case and the ruling by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) on the case involving the pony Loughnatousa Bart.
The former involved a horse owned and ridden by show jumper Christian Coyle. Glenkeen Highlight tested positive at Cavan show last November for the painkillers phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone and flunixin. The positive test was designated grade one by the FEI, the highest level on its scale. This means the drugs have a high potential to affect the performance of the horse. The FEI Judicial Committee are due to adjudicate on the case in the coming days and the Co Derry rider is facing the prospect of a suspension.
Coyle, who competes on the national grand prix circuit, refused to comment this week.
The case came to light with its publication by the FEI on its website. It is part of its new strategy in the battle for a clean sport. Cases, including the Irish one, are included in the FEI list after a positive A-sample is confirmed by an analysis (B-sample), or the person responsible for the animal had waived his/her right to a B-sample.
Meanwhile, the owner of Loughnatousa Bart, Terry Power, has been fined 3,000 Swiss francs - almost €2,000 - by the FEI after the pony tested positive at Arezzo, Italy, last September.
It was found to have the anti-inflammatory/painkilling drugs flunixin and naproxen in its system.
Listed as grade one, the combination has a high potential to affect the performance of the animal.
The pony and Mr Power’s daughter Cailin formed part of the winning Irish team at the show.
The pony was disqualified from the competition, but, the FEI could not confirm yesterday how this would alter the result.
In coming to its decision, the FEI said that: “As the person responsible [Mr Power] failed to provide any conceivable explanation for the finding of the prohibited substances, the presumption of a deliberate attempt ... to affect the performance of the horse is to be applied”.
The FEI also that while “the prohibited substance may serve as legitimate therapeutic treatment, it may also be misused, depending on the method and timing of administration”.
As Mr Power is not a rider, no suspension was imposed.
Mr Power was ordered to pay 1,000 Swiss francs towards the costs of the judicial procedure and 750 Swiss francs for the confirmatory analysis costs.
