THE sun was shining for the Sven Hadley stables last weekend, as their visiting rider from Morocco, Zaid Ali Raad, shared victory in the ShowJumping Ireland National Grand Prix at Ballivor Grand Prix Show. Riding BE Flygold, he was first to go in the four-way jump-off and delivered a clear in 40.63 seconds.

Liam O’Meara shared the win, when he recorded the same time of 40.63 aboard Cevann. Placed third the day before in Wexford with Sir Jim Jim, O’Meara also took sixth place here with the stallion, when they finished the first round on four faults in 83.54.

BE Flygold, bred by GBBS International, is a nine-year-old-gelding by Stakkato Gold and out of Ballypatrick Flight.

Speaking after the joint win, Zaid Ali Raad said: “It was really nice to have the win here today and it was great to see people enjoying the Grand Prix. The weather set the tone and there was some very good jumping over the show. I was told that this was one of the oldest Grands Prix and that it was very popular with top names over the years. My horse is owned by John Chadwick, an English man, and the horse is very quick and careful. John also has a horse jumping five-star with Billy Twomey, so it’s nice to deliver some results here too for him.”

Regarding the course, he said: “John Doyle built a nice course, and it was very competitive against the clock.”

Liam O’Meara was also complementary of the show, saying: “It’s wonderful to see the spectators enjoying the jumping. It was a fast class, and I knew I just had to go for it. It has been a great weekend of jumping. I am delighted with how Cevann jumped over the two days, he was just outside the top six the day before in the Grand Prix, after jumping a double clear. I also finished second in the Leinster Spring Tour on Zambia.”

Cevann is owned by O’Meara and he is a 12-year-old gelding by Cevin Z and out of the Kannan-sired dam, Bellini.

Although 20 went to post, the class lacked nothing in terms of spectator viewing, as crowds gathered to watch the top show jumping action.

Sven Hadley added to the stable haul, claiming both third and fifth places. He delivered his best round with Maximum Numero Too HSH, finishing on four faults in 40.77. He was fastest of the four-faulters in the first round with Tom McGurk’s Kannan Contessa in a time of 82.44 for fifth place.

Winner of the Grand Prix in Wexford the day before, young rider Camryn Clarke added to his leaderboard score, as he took third place with Conto De Reve, finishing on eight faults in the jump-off in 41.75.

1.35m win

Hadley landed another win, as he rode to victory in the 1.35m Karlswood Stable Leinster Summer Tour class. Riding Carthe 7, he was one of six double clears in 34.20 seconds to take home the winner’s share of the €2,000 on offer.

Delighted with the results over the weekend, Hadley said: “We have had a great few weeks and it’s great to see the results in all classes from 1.10m up to Grand Prix level. The 1.35m class was very competitive and it’s never an easy win in this league. Carthe 7 is owned by Hibernia Horses, and she is a mare by Chick In. She has been very consistent, winning and taking second place in Mullingar CSI2*. Similarly, Tom McGurk’s Kannan Contessa has proved very consistent and is another exciting prospect for the future.”

Liam O’Meara took the runner-up spot, when he partnered the Gabriel Mullins-owned Zambia to a clear round in 35.40. Little stood between the next placing, as Brendan Murphy and Abs Misty stopped the clock with nothing to add in 35.79. A clear from Nicholas Butler and Crossriver Lackavera in 36.17 was enough to secure them fourth place. Hadley returned to take fifth with Tom McGurk’s home-bred, Kannan Contessa, with a clear in 37.88. Jennifer Torrens completed the top six with her own Cool Garcon, with a foot-perfect round in 38.85.

Close finish

Winner of the 1.20m class was Sean Dooley and Indie Girl, when they left everything standing in a time of 34.19. It was an extremely competitive two-phase class, with the top two riders being divided by fractions of a second. Dooley was chased home by amateur rider Lisa Doyle (AA) and Ballinaguilkey Dignified, when they were a mere 0.04 seconds behind in 34.23. Sven Hadley also collected in this class, taking third with Machnus Lux, when clear in 36.73. Kyle McLaughlin and Cantara 115 delivered a clear in 39.57 for fourth place, while in fifth was Victoria Clarke and Cherry Candy Girl, who was clear in 39.97. Kyle McLaughlin returned to take sixth place with Fernanda 22, with another double clear, albeit in a slower time of 40.25.

1.10m win

Narrowly defeated in the 1.20m class, Lisa Doyle took the win in the 1.10m division, when she partnered the very reliable Ballinaguilkey Dignified to a double clear in 25.54. Doyle was chased home by her sister Laura Walshe and Ballinaguilkey Heritage, when she left everything in place in a time of 28.31. Zaid Ali Raad and Londons Diamant took third, with a clear in 28.88, ahead of Rachel Shaw (A) and Leestone Vitaire, who crossed the line with nothing to add in 32.69. Children on Horses rider, Timmy Considine and Ardress Tyson accounted for fifth, with a clear in 33.33, ahead of Jacqueline Colborne and LFS Our Star, who was clear in 34.72.