Gibbons back to winning ways

BALLINASLOE junior Godfrey Gibbons and Milchem Free Spirit returned to winning ways when picking the red ribbon in the EI 110 (J) at Grove on Wednesday.

Having dominated the junior ranks last year, when the pair racked up five wins, Gibbons has since been on the side-lines, delayed by the enforced cancellation of the underage classes.

As a result, he was making just his fourth run of the current campaign, but looking as smooth as ever, led the seven starters from the front. As the top six delivered double clear rounds, the final order was time dependent, and completing in second spot was Ellen Creed (Interface) from Ruth Burke (SRS Mini Vendi).

The winner, who is owned by Gibbons’ mother Marie Dunne, and bred by Ralph Conroy, was bought by the family 18 months ago, and is now bound for Kilguilkey CCI2*-L. Seventeen-year-old Gibbons who is still at school, spends much of his time working with Conroy, and hopes to move into horses full-time.

The 15-year-old skewbald Ah To Be Sure ridden by Mathew Kelly, looked super in the show jumping and having led the dressage proceeded to take the EI 100 (J) spoils by a distance. Making only their second run under rules, the pair were the best of eight runners, all of whom were fault free in the jumping phases.

With just one combination adding time faults, the final order saw Cliona Mitchell (Treliver Desdemona) who filled second, from Amelia McCarthy (Tillystown Girl).