Tina Stephenson notched up her first win on her fifth attempt at the Connolly’s Red Mills Masters Series last Sunday at Clonshire Equestrian Centre in Adare, Co. Limerick

Just over half of the declared entrants took to the field at the final round of the series where it came down to a four way jump-off. Pathfinder, Mosstown’s Lesley Fitzgerald set the target to beat after Brooklyn Beckham crossed the line in a time of 38.04 after leaving all of the fences intact.

John Purcell was next in on Our Silver Lady Lara but returned with 8 penalties on the scoreboard in a time of 46.71.

Raynall Cunningham gave a good account on Killahara Boy but couldn’t quite match the pace of Fitzgerald as the Mill Road rider missed out by a narrow margin of just two tenths of a second.

Tina Stephenson was last to jump for the Round Tower Ridiing Club and decimated the target as Sliabh Dubh Rose put in a foot perfect performance to cross the line in a time of 34.72, shaving over three seconds off the time.

A delighted Stephenson said after the win, “Rose really was in great form and it showed out there.  Today’s win has positioned my nicely now heading into the two day final next month which I can’t wait for.”

The Castlebar resident now moves into the top ten on the league table after her win while the gap has narrowed considerably between leader Shelia Murphy and Raynal Cunningham who gained 6 points to move into second place on the table, just two behind Murphy on 26.

50 riders have qualified for the two-day final which takes place on the 4th and 5th September at Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Co. Westmeath.