The Connacht Amateur Championships took place at Rockmount Equestrian Centre on Saturday and Sunday with Galway riders securing some big results in the charity event.

Over the past five years the Rockmount charity show has raised money for various good causes in the region and this year's beneficiaries were a new children's cancer charity called CD's Helping Hands.

The prestigious leading rider honours from the weekend went to two Galway riders with Kieran Feeney from Mervue taking the title in the A section on Carna Valley while one of Galway's leading amateurs riders Jacinta Fahy from Ardrahan took Leading Rider in the AA section riding the consistently brilliant Chicken Wall.

Other successful Galway riders in the A section were Suzanne Creavin from Headford; Gary Higgins from Claregalway; Therese Dixon from Turloughmore and Michael Healy from Abbeyknockmoy. In the AA category Garbiel Corless from Oranmore on his horse Rockstown Randi. In Sunday's events Mark Folan from Galway city riding the Grey Monk was the best from Connacht in the Power and Speed A class while in the Grand Prix AA section Hayley Togher from Tuam was also among the leading riders.

The Amateur sportsman class provided plenty of entertainment for those riders who don't take things too seriously with Ray Lee from Headford and veteran Tom Feeney from Mervue producing sterling performances.

CD's Helping Hand was formally launched in October 2006 began providing services in December 2006. They are currently helping six families in the West of Ireland and hope to increase this number over the next few months. The charity is supported and endorsed by Our Lady's Children Hospital in Crumlin.

Meanwhile, Olive Clarke is finishing the season in good form after she finished a very credible fourth in the opening round of the Bloxhan Stockbrokers Autumn league in Newcastle in Wicklow. She jumped clear in round one on Spitfield and was the third fastest of three horses on four faults in the jump off. Greg Broderick from Tipperary won with just two time faults.

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