IT has been an impressive few weeks for junior rider and European pony medallist Cian McMunn, who continued his winning form by claiming victory in last Saturday’s €4,000 National Grand Prix at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre in Co Galway, aboard Bellevue Celestial. The pair delivered a flawless round before stopping the clock in a winning time of 32.09 seconds.
The success marks McMunn’s second major victory of the month, having also claimed the Derryronane Stud 1.35m class at Tubberbride earlier in the month with Lisboy Emerald.
Owned by Breda McMunn, Bellevue Celestial was bred by Ruth Loney and is by Luidam and out of the Limmerick-sired dam, Bellevue Bird Of Paradise. This combination finished second in the Derryronane Stud 1.35m class at Tubberbride and had finished sixth in the young rider qualifiers in Cavan in the 1.35/1.40m division.
Delighted
Speaking after the win, McMunn said: “I am delighted with the win in the Grand Prix today. I had two in the class, and I moved up the draw on the horse that I won it on. The plan was to keep it tight and not to do anything stupid. After the double, I could have taken an inside line, but I went around and galloped to the proceeding oxer. The middle part of the course was where I made up the time.
“The mare actually belongs to my sister, but she has a lot of ponies at the moment, so I am riding her for a few months. She is really in fantastic form with a good few results over the last few weeks.”
A total of 24 went to post and, from those, nine booked their place against the clock.
No strangers to the winner’s enclosure, the TRM Spring Tour Champions, Sven Hadley and Maximum Numero Too HSH took second place, when they kept all the poles in place in 32.59. This pairing had also claimed third place in the round at Ballivor.
Hadley bought Maximum Numero Too HSH in the Elite Sale in Cavan. He is an eight-year-old, bred by Eamonn McArdle, and is by Aganix Du Seigneur and out of the Numero Uno-sired dam, Couple of Diamonds.
A main contender in the Connaught league and third-place finisher in that league a few weeks ago, Stephen Gibbons and Ceide Candy Heart, slotted into third, with a clear in 32.80. Owned by Jane Gibbons and bred by Mary Walsh, this eight-year-old gelding is by Garryduff Jar Of Hearts and is out of the Sligo Candy Boy dam, Ceide Heather Honey.
Winner of the Connaught 1.35m Grand Prix in Galway Equestrian, Shane Goggins and Boleybawn Cayman took fourth, with a clear in 34.12. Bred by Ronan Rothwell, the 14-year-old gelding is by Cassidee and out of the Ard VDL Douglas-sired dam, Boleybawn Riverto.
Competing at their first show, Junior rider Senan Reape and Kalevus secured fifth place, when they left all the poles in place in 35.07. This 11-year-old is by Etoulon and is out of the Vingino-sired dam, Coleva.
Completing the top six was Joyce Veld and Corraghoe Bounce, coming home with nothing to add in 36.23. This 14-year-old gelding is by Lux Z and out of the Cruising-sired dam, Corraghoe Tiger.