LIAM O’Meara put his first win on the board in the Premier Performance National Grand Prix at CoilÓg last Sunday when he was one of only four double clears aboard Cevann in a time of 41.35 seconds to win the €4,000 class sponsored by the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland.
Speaking after the win, O’Meara said: “I am really happy with the horse as I haven’t been riding him too long. He is a horse with plenty of scope and is very careful.
“I was quick from fence one to two in the jump-off and I got seven strides to the third fence. This, along with being quick to last fence, gave me the upper hand. The course was very strong at the start and it was a very competitive class, with experienced combinations taking it on.
“My second horse, Big Dan Du Rouet [who finished sixth], is a stallion we have here and he’s been jumping exceptionally well. He’s recently placed second in several Munster Grand Prix events and is showing great consistency.”
O’Meara added: “It’s been a busy week, and it’s only going to get busier. I have two horses qualified for the Dublin Horse Show and we’re currently working with a strong group of competitive horses who are really delivering results. I also had a lovely six-year-old competing in the Mervue and she jumped double clear.”
Owned by O’Meara, the winner, an 11-year-old gelding by Cevin Z out of the Kannan mare, Bellini, joined his string last November from Britain’s Holly Smith who jumped him to 1.50m level. This partnership claimed third place in the Connolly’s Red Mills/Munster Region SJI 1.35m Grand Prix in Killeagh the week before.
On hand to present the prizes, Ciara Keogh from Premier Performance said: “I would like to thank all the competitors for travelling in the terrible weather conditions and for CoilÓg for continuing in very tough conditions.”
With the heavy rain playing havoc across the country and making travelling conditions difficult, just 14 combinations lined out for the class and, despite rain falling heavy all day, half of those proceeded to the timed round.
Francis Connors took two places in the line-up, delivering his best result with Carrigshawn Vendi Royal when coming home clear in 42.52 for second place. 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. This result came off the back of sixth place in the Plusvital Premier Series at Barnadown in May.
Connors also took fourth place with Ann Connors’ eight-year-old Mister-Go when they delivered the slowest of the double clears in 50 seconds. Bred by H. Van De Goor, this gelding is by Cornet Obolensky out of the Carthino Z-sired Chapeau Cinea Go.
Dividing Connors placings was Sven Hadley and Phenomene Bleu VDM who kept all the poles in place in a time of 42.99. Owned by Hadley Sporthorses, the 10-year-old stallion was bred by Famile Bruggeman by Diamant De Semilly out of the Nabab De Reve mare Nuance Bleue VDM Z. This partnership has clocked up results of late which include a win in the six-bar at Mullingar CSI2* and second in the 1.40m two phase in Mullingar.
Winner of the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour earlier in the season, Robin Carey and Luicruz were back in the ribbons, this time claiming fifth when they put in a blistering round of 40.72 but paid the price of one on the ground. Luicruz, a 10-year-old mare by Luidam out All Cruz (Puissance), was bred by Sean Fahey and is owned by Carey himself. The mare was purchased at the Goresbridge Horse Sales and was initially produced by Adam Carey before Robin took over the ride when she was six.
It was a good day for Liam O’Meara and he completed the line-up, taking sixth with Big Dan Du Rouet when finishing with one down in a time of 42.06. Bred by Michael Ryan, this 10-year-old stallion is by Querlybet Hero out of the Harlequin Du Carel-sired Glenaguile Rose.
Gemma Phelan also had one on the ground with Curraghraigue Jack Bro in a time of 42.11 for seventh place. Bred by his owner Baden Powell, this nine-year-old gelding is by Orestus out of the Errigal Flight mare Curraghgraigue Errigal.