THE Premier Performance Grand Prix came to an exciting conclusion at the Irish Breeders’ Classic last Friday week. Taking the final round was Mikey Pender, while Francis Connors claimed the overall title.

Speaking after the win, Connors said: “I am delighted to win the league with Carrigshawn Vendi Royal, who is owned by myself and my two daughters, Jenny and Kate. We bought her as a six-year-old and this is our fourth season together and she has progressed really well. It was a busy year and we tried to follow the league as best as we could and we were also trying to follow the Premier Series and a few international shows in between.

“She had a win in Charleville and in Hollypark and was second in CoilÓg and placed a few other times, so she’s generally been very consistent.”

Taking place in The Irish Horse Board main grass arena, 87 went to post in a bid to take home the winner’s share of the €4,000 on offer. From the original starters, 18 delivered clears in the first round and 13 contested the jump-off.

Course designer John Doyle set a fair test for the final, beginning with fence six, the triple bar, followed by the vertical at seven. From there, they turned left to the oxer at 15 before continuing to the double at 11bc. The track then asked for a right turn to the oxer at 12, a gallop across the arena to fence 16 and, finally, a left-handed turn back to the closing oxer, originally fence one.

The first double clear was delivered by third to go, Orla Queally and Gentleman-Time. Queally put in a great display of riding, which saw her keep up the pace along with some calculated turns in particular in the turn back to the double. A clear in 42.53 saw them take the lead and later was enough to secure fourth place. The 14-year-old gelding by Quality Time is owned by her father John.

The next double clear came courtesy of James Derwin with Francis Derwin’s Quinci Quality (by Windowd VH Costersveld), bred by the Quality Stud. Derwin delivered a steady clear in 44.21, which would eventually see them take sixth place.

All eyes were on Mikey Pender as he took to the course with HHS Fortune. Pender set off in his usual determined pace. Despite a few bucks from the 14-year-old mare, Pender got a very tight line to the oxer at 15 and maintained a strong pace to the double. Another tight turn to fence 16, along with a daring gallop to last oxer, saw them post the winning round in 39.95.

Owned and bred by Marion Hughes, HHS Fortune is by Catoki out of the Ard Vdl Douglas-sired HHS Daisy. HHS Fortune is the dam of HHS Tokyo, who is currently campaigned by Molly Hughes Bravo.

Young rider Jenny Dunlop and Gidion B also kept the poles in place but in a slower time of 42.68 for fifth place. Owned by Judith Dunlop, the 14-year-old gelding is by Eldorado Vd Zeshoek TN out of the Ukato mare Coberlina B.

Paul Beecher also took a good turn back to fence 15 with his wife Seryna Van Kuelen’s 14-year-old gelding Glamstone (Berlin x Sydeny), but failed to catch Pender and a clear in 41.15 for would prove good enough for second.

Double-handed in the jump-off, Lt Raphael Lee delivered his best result with Killossery Kilshane when they took third with a clear in 41.71. Bred by Frank and Laura Glynn, the nine-year-old mare is by Peppermill out of Killossery Kruisette (Cruising) and is owned by the Minister for Defence.