CROWDS gathered around the main show jumping arena at the huge agricultural show in Charleville to watch the 19 combinations battle it out in the Premier Performance National Grand Prix for the €4,000 sponsored by Dick’s Supervalu.

Claiming this victory was Francis Connors and Carrigshawn Vendi Royal, when he was fastest of four double clears. Connors also took the runner-up spot in Saturday’s Connolly’s Red Mills 1.35m Grand Prix with Raymond McChesney’s RNH Valentino.

Speaking after the win, Connors said: “I am delighted to have the win here today. The mare has been knocking on the doors at home and abroad with placings in ranking classes in Oliva CSI3* as well as in Grands Prix at home. It was great to see so many people out on Sunday watching the Grand Prix. I would like to thank the organisers for putting the money and effort in to putting this super show on.”

Owned by Francis, Jenny and Kate Connors, the 10-year-old mare was bred by John Warner by Dondoctro Ryal K out of Carrigshawn Vendi (Ars Vivendi). This is the second good result for the combination of late, having claimed the runner-up spot in the Premier Performance National Grand Prix in CoilÓg a few weeks prior. In May, they also took sixth place in the Plusvital Premier Grand Prix.

Against the clock

From the original starters, six booked their place against the clock over the Tony Hurley-designed course. The course offered riders a good few opportunities to make up the time and, for those with a win in mind, they knew they needed to take a tight line back to fence three, along with a neat turn to the double and then on to fence five before heading home.

First to go was Aoife McCabe aboard her own Heritage Enigma. McCabe started strongly, but a tight line to the double didn’t work out as they faulted at the first part. Her time of 38.33 would later see her fill sixth place. Bred by Anne-Marie O’Gorman, the 10-year-old mare is by Eldorado Van De Zeshoek out of the Canturo-sired dam Claudi.

Double-handed in the jump-off, Robyn Moran got her first look at the course with Vera Griffin’s Cushlas Friday. Like McCabe, Moran made a tight turn to the double but faulted at the second part, finishing in 36.51 for fifth place. It was a good weekend for Moran, as she took the win in the Connolly’s Red Mills 1.35m Grand Prix the day before with Cushlas Fryday. Bred by John Peter Finlay, Cushlas Fryday is an 11-year-old gelding by Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve out of the Apache D’Adriers-sired Une Ardente De Vie (SF).

Down to business

All eyes were on the very experienced Francis Connors, as he took it on with Carrigshawn Vendi Royal. Connors meant business from the start, keeping the pace up from the first vertical to the oxer. He then negotiated a very tight turn back to the oxer at three and then a good line to fence five. Towards the end of the course, he got a nice shot to the double before heading home strongly to the last, clearing the final oxer to take the win in 37.14.

Local rider Robert Splaine had plenty of support as he took it on with Coolcorron Lachlan. He got a good line to the oxer at three, but opted to take the longer route to the double. A daring gallop to the last, along with taking a stride out, saw him come home clear in 38.41, which put him into provisional second. Owned by Splaine and Story Horse Farm, the nine-year-old gelding was bred by John O’Sullivan by Goodluck VDL out of Dicksgrove Colleen. The pair claimed fourth place in the Connolly’s Red Mills/Munster Region 1.35m Grand Prix the day before. Splaine also took the win in the earlier 1.25m class with Sandra Devine’s Laranco and fifth in the Connolly’s Red Mills 1.35m Grand Prix.

Limerick rider Richard Hourigan opted to play it safe with his own Killaloan Cobra Carel and it paid off, as they came home clear in a time of 42.92 to take eventual fourth. Owned by Hourigan and bred by Owen Cooney, the 12-year-old gelding is by Cobra out of the Harelquin Du Carel-sired Carigeen Carel.

Last to go, Robyn Moran knew what was required to take the win. Setting off at a strong pace with Fortside Clever Candy, she took all the necessary tight turns. This time, with all the poles remaining in place in a time of 37.65, she took the runner-up place and, in the process, demoted Splaine into third place.

Owned by Fortside Farms and bred by Brian O’Reilly, the 10-year-old Sligo Candy Boy gelding is out of the Lux Z mare Clever Queen Lux. They claimed fifth place in the Plusvital Grand Prix at Hughes Horse Stud Annual Show in early June.