2021 O’ Brien Saddlery Series

Maryville Stables are delighted to launch an exciting new mid-week show-jumping series which will take place across four dates in the coming weeks. Thanks to the support of Lorraine O’ Brien and her team, the ‘O’ Brien Saddlery Series’ will feature a combined prize fund of almost €12,000. The series comprises three qualifiers and a final with classes of 1.00m, 1.10m, 1.20m and 1.30m. Qualifiers will take place at the Carrigaline, Co. Cork venue on Wednesday April 28th, May 19th and June 23rd and riders must compete at a minimum of one qualifier to be eligible to compete at the final. Each qualifier will have a €1,700 prize fund of which €1,000 will be guaranteed for the 1.30m Grand Prix class. The final will take place on Wednesday 7th July where a prize fund of €6,000 will be on offer and all classes will be live-streamed. Bonus prizes will be on offer for the leading league rider in each class and the leading 5, 6 and 7/8 year old horses.

Yvonne O’ Brien, Alan O’ Regan (mounted), Jennifer and Alan Molan at the launch of the 2021 O’ Brien Saddlery mid-week Showjumping Series

With the aim of promoting the production and education of horses while rewarding riders and owners with much needed prize money, the response to the O’ Brien Saddlery Series has been overwhelmingly positive. Reacting to the launch, Marion Hughes said ‘It’s a great and much needed initiative. Most yards have 15+ horses to get to shows which is impossible to do in one day. It will be useful to get horses out in a non-stressed but still competitive environment.  Show days at the moment are getting longer and longer with horses in trucks for long periods of time so it would be good to have the option of getting some of those horses out midweek.

Showjumpers’ Club chairman Ronan Corrigan commented, ‘I think a lot of riders and owners throughout the country will be delighted to see these type of new initiatives. It will bring more much needed investment into the sport and will provide a choice for riders and owners to create alternate competition schedules for their horses. This concept mid-week will also help where we may face limited numbers at shows and has the potential to make the show day more manageable for many yards.

Cork-based showjumper Alan O’ Regan said:

It is a very forward-thinking approach where classes are run over a 2 phase special which ensures valuable ring time for younger horses. A sizeable prize fund is also up for grabs in the 1.30 class throughout the series. A big thank you to O Brien’s Saddlery for their very generous sponsorship and support of showjumping in Munster.

Alan O’ Regan

Maryville hopes that the series will be well supported and plan to develop the Series going forward. For further information, please contact Alan or Jennifer Molan (info@maryvillestables.ie).

Bucas Derby Cross League Final

Miserable weather conditions greeted competitors who travelled to Maryville Stables in Co. Cork last Sunday for the final of the Bucas Spring Derby Cross League but the persistent rain failed to dampen the spirits of those in contention for the valuable League prizes on offer.

Claire Nulty (Bucas) congratulates Carina Crowley and Spider - Winners of the Bucas Maryville Spring Derby Cross 70cm Final (29/01/17)

Claire Nulty (Bucas) congratulates Carina Crowley and Spider – Winners of the Bucas Maryville Spring Derby Cross 70cm Final (29/01/17)

The 70cm League has proved extremely popular and some well-known faces from the showjumping and eventing spheres availed of the opportunity to school over a course comprising a variety of show-jump and portable cross country fences. At the more competitive end, Carina Crowley and Spider came out on top in the final league standings, winning two of the four legs and just being pipped into second place at the Final after a time-beating round by Sean Kelly and Kelly’s Dancer – last to go in the class.

Orla Flemming and Jack - Winners of the Bucas Maryville Spring Derby Cross 1m Final (29/01/17)

Orla Flemming and Jack – Winners of the Bucas Maryville Spring Derby Cross 1m Final (29/01/17)

The action proved no less intense at 85cm level where Sarah Rohan was delighted to pick up her €100 cash prize from Bucas representative Claire Nulty having topped the 85cm League with Portavadda Donna. Lucy Brady and Casper had to settle for second place while Seamus Hennessy and Ballynoe Badger completed the top three.

As the rain turned into mist, spectators and supporters emerged from the shelter of the busy Bucas Pop-Up Shop to cheer on the 1m League contenders. Leading the league heading into the final, Orla Flemming and Jack posted a record time early in the competition and despite the best efforts of those that followed, Flemming stayed on top with Fiona Fitton (Ballinhassig Prince) and Karen Hourican (Freddy) taking second and third places respectively.

Claire Nulty (Bucas) congratulates Sarah Rohan and Portavadda Donna - Winners of the Bucas Maryville Spring Derby Cross 85cm Final (29/01/17)

Claire Nulty (Bucas) congratulates Sarah Rohan and Portavadda Donna – Winners of the Bucas Maryville Spring Derby Cross 85cm Final (29/01/17)

Ongoing redevelopment of the existing outdoor arena at Maryville is almost complete and will ensure the best possible conditions for the busy season ahead as Alan and Jennifer Molan celebrate ten years of hosting equestrian competition.

Francis Connors in front at Maryville Stables

Waterford’s Francis Connors recorded his second win of the 2016 Horseware/ TRM National Grand Prix series at Maryville Stables on Sunday. Twenty-five competitors lined out for the penultimate leg of the league with eight horses making it into the jump-off over the Tom Holden designed course.

Connors was fourth to enter the arena for the jump-off with Bobby Flynn’s 11-year-old Lux Z gelding ‘Hyperion’ and having witnessed clear rounds from Peter Moloney and Paul Beecher he knew what he had to do. Having shaved nearly 6 seconds off the leading time it was just a matter of sitting back and watching the remainder of the jump-off. Current league leader Vincent Byrne came close to taking the top position but an unfortunate fence down earned Connors the win, ahead of Gerard O’ Neill and ‘KMS Clintland.’

Speaking after the Grand Prix, Connors said ‘We’ve had an unlucky year with Hyperion but it’s great to cap it off with a win today.’ The victory saw him climb up to third place in the Horseware/ TRM National Grand Prix leaderboard with Vincent Byrne and Gerard O’ Neill still holding on to first and second positions.

Connors had a busy weekend at Maryville, occupying the second and third places in the final lineup of Saturday’s 1.35m Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix with ‘Capitol Cruis’ and ‘Uskerty Diamond Lady.’ He thought he had done enough to take the win but Paul Beecher set the place alight with Seryna Van Kuelen’s ‘Danqu’ recording the fastest time of the ten horse jump-off at 37.37. Earlier in the day, Peter Moloney took the honours in the FBD sponsored 1.20m Series with Ann Veale Foran’s ‘Ballyconnery Wood.’

1.40m Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix – Maryville Stables

  1. Francis Connors (Hyperion), 0/0/44.72
  2. Gerard O’ Neill (KMS Clintland), 0/0/49.88
  3. Peter Moloney (ESI Carvalho), 0/0/54.52
  4. Vincent Byrne (Mr. Rockefeller), 0/4/45.37
  5. Vincent Byrne (Caugherty), 0/4/46.39
  6. Paul Beecher (Cruising Star), 0/4/50.52

Full result available here.

Munster Eventing Combined Training League

You do not have to be a member of Eventing Ireland to take part in these events.
The League will be held on the following dates:
20 January 2013
03 February 2013
17 February 2013

There will be classes for all grades from Intro to Advanced. Each entry will cost €30.

The dressage tests are all available to download from the Eventing Ireland website (you will see them when you go to put in an online entry)
www.eventingireland.com

Show Jumping Heights are as follows:

Advanced: 1.15m-1.25m

Intermediate: 1.10m-1.15m

Novice: 1.05m-1.10m

Pre Novice: 95cm-1.00m

Intro: 80cm-90cm

This is a relaxed, friendly day out and the ideal way to blow off those cobwebs after the winter.

Any queries contact Rosemarie Ahern O’Gorman on 086 3437864 or rose.ogorman@southwestern.ie

Website Launch!

Welcome to our new website! We will be adding more content in the coming weeks including upcoming events, recent results, photo galleries and more!

Please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments!