FOLLOWING a great league final of the Connaught League, the Connaught region hosted their Super Grand Prix Show in Tubberbride, Co Sligo last Saturday for qualified combinations.

Some 18 combinations qualified for the Super Grand Prix 1.35m class, which proved as competitive as the league, with little separating the top combinations. In the end, it was Sven Hadley who got the upper hand over Stephen Gibbons, with Hadley taking the first two placings. Hadley took the win aboard the Hibernia Horses-owned Elka De La Pomme, when he delivered a clear in 68.62.

The 13-year-old Caretano mare Elka De La Pomme is no stranger to success, taking two wins in the 1.35m in Cavan and, before that, won at this level in Mullingar CSI2*. Not content with the win, Hadley also put in another foot-perfect performance with Tom McGurk’s home-bred Kannan Contessa in 70.85 for second.

Speaking after the class, Hadley said: “The mare is owned by Hibernia Horses and I don’t have her that long. In the time that I have her, she has been very consistent and was clear in the 1.40m Grand Prix in Tipperary, so it was nice to collect a win today.

“My other horse, Kannan Contessa, has not been with me that long either, but she is also very consistent. She is very careful and has a lot of scope. It’s easy when you ride two good horses. Thank you to Connaught Showjumping for putting on a great show with good prize money. To have good prize money makes it worthwhile to keep horses in work, as it has got very expensive.”

Stephen Gibbons has proved ultra-consistent in this league and he took third in the Super Grand Prix. Riding the eight-year-old Ceide Candy Heart, he picked up a single time fault in the first round. Joyce Veld and Corraghoe Bounce also incurred a time fault to take fourth place.

Gibbons took another share of the prize fund when he finished fifth as the fastest four-faulter with Cassius Z in 66.46. Damien Griffin and the seven-year-old Ardragh Drc Drifter also had one on the ground, but in a slower time of 69.07 for sixth. Griffin also took home the Premier Performance hamper for the best turned out.

1.20m

It was certainly a good day for Sven Hadley, as he took the win in the EMC-sponsored 1.20m class. Riding the very nimble HSH Harper Du Seigneur, he lodged the winning round in 41.86. This combination has clocked up a series of good results at this level, which included the 1.20m win in Glenamaddy and before that at Garranemore.

Young rider Saga Gunnersson came closest to catching him on the Dermot Forde-owned six-year-old Lara’s Joy, delivering a clear in 43.23 for second. Gunnersson added a third-place finish to her tally after a clear with Martin Flesk and Michael Duffy’s six-year-old Chinablue-K Van Kattenheye Z (47.47).

Anna Baynes and Lochan Ramiro also came home with nothing to add in 48.14 for eventual fourth. Ken Feeney proved out of luck when he had one on the ground with his own Limbo H after posting a fast time of 43.11 and, as a result, had to settle for fifth. Junior rider Oisin Anderson and Pearl completed the top six, finishing on eight faults in 56.99.

1.10m

Leading the victory lap in the Connaught Showjumping 1.10m division was junior rider Lily P Slattery and the five-year-old Captain Acorad Man, when they were fastest of the seven double clears in 28.13. Bred by Gabriel Slattery Snr, this gelding is by Acorad 3 and out of the Captain Clover-sired dam Captains Lady.

An overjoyed Slattery said: “I am delighted with the win. He is just a five-year-old and we bred him ourselves. I rode him every day since he was a four-year-old and I produced him. My granddad owns him and bred him. The plan is to go to Mullingar for the Studbook series and maybe do a few shows in Cavan at the end of the year. I would like to thank Dad and Grandad and Gabe for all the work that they put in; the Connaught region for running such a good league and Tubberbride for running a great show.”

Amateur rider Niamh Quinn (AA) and Clonguish Vivaro took the runner-up place when they came home in 28.28.Orla Dixon remained within the 29 seconds, delivering a clear with Ravens Mister Rolo in 28.77 for third. Saga Gunnersson returned to the line-up taking fourth with Lyndsey Dillion’s Di Caprio II, coming home in 29.28. Sven Hadley also featured in the prizes, taking fifth with the Hibernia-owned six-year-old Chipmunk Bc. Damien Griffin added to his haul, taking sixth with Ollie Ward’s six-year-old Ardragh Rock N Roll, stopping the clock in 29.75.

Amateurs

Winner of the amateur class was Vanessa Sweeney and Woodbank Clover (A), when she put in a foot-perfect round in 30.65.

Speaking after the win, Sweeney said: “I got her as a five-year-old and she is just the best. We call her Lucy the legend. She lives up to her name every day. She is a very chilled character and is not naturally fast and I knew that, if I wanted to get up in the placings, I would have to keep my turns as tight as possible. Thankfully it paid off today, as we managed to shave off some corners and get in tight to fences.”

She was chased home by Shauna Wilson (A) and Omard Hannah, who was clear in 31.13. Breda Perrin (A) and LKS Bianca took third, when she kept everything standing in 31.65. A clear from Rachel Mahon (A) and Stralongford Christine in 32.37 saw them take fourth. Niall Hughes and Blakeneys Christy came home with nothing to add in 33.51 for fifth, ahead of Karen Boylan and GRC Blue Ice in 33.97.

After months of competition across the region, the Connaught champions were crowned at the League Final in Tubberbride Equestrian in early July. Shane Goggins and Boleybawn Cayman were crowned Derryronane Stud Grand Prix League Champions, while Zaid Ali Raad and BE Flygold claimed the Premier Performance 1.20m League. Tara Brandon and BEC Phoenix took the Flexineb by Nortev 1.10m League crown, while Shauna Wilson and Omard Hannah took the Connaught Amateur League title.