Andrew Bourns from Eyrecourt produced Galway's best result of the week at the Dublin Horse show on Saturday with a second place finish in the final of the seven-year-old horses class.
Bourns was riding Gowran Park and jumped a double clear with a jump-off time that was less than two tenths of a second outside the winning time of Marion Hughes.
In the six-year-old final Brian Cassidy from Newcastle in Galway city also managed a superb double clear round in the national decider, finishing fifth on the John Crennan-owned Stoney Road Lad.
Jessica Burke from Gort recorded the best result in the ponies on the opening day with a second and fifth place in the 148 qualifier event earlier today. She finished second on Sillogue Darkie with a double clear round and added a fifth place finish to that on European Clover with four faults.
That qualified Burke for Friday’s national final in the main arena where she finished fifth in the jump-off. The winner of the best junior rider award in this year’s Fahy Sales League was one of nine clear in the first round and had just one fence down in the deciding round. The competition was won by Sligo's Richard Howley with one of only two double clear rounds in the final.
This week’s action is in Millstreet which has a bigger entry list than any major show in Ireland this season. A large Galway contingent will be hoping to make an impression on the national stage, particularly Olive Clarke who will try to build on her superb recent form which saw her snatch the Dun Laoghaire leg of the national Grand Prix league two weeks ago.
