THE second round of the Derryronane Stud 1.35m Grand Prix took place last Sunday at Duffy’s Equestrian Centre, with 28 going to post. Sponsored by O’Malley and Co Accountants in Galway, this regional league offered a prize fund of €3,000. It was an exciting class, with 14 booking their place against the clock and eight delivering double clears.

Claiming victory was young rider Stephen Gibbons aboard the eight-year-old Ceide Candy Heart with a clear in 32.85. Owned by Jane Gibbons and bred by Mary Walsh, this gelding is by Garryduff Jar Of Hearts and is out of the Sligo Candy Boy dam, Ceide Heather Honey. This combination was unlucky in the opening round, incurring four faults.

Speaking after the win, Gibbons said: “I was very happy with the win and how the horse went. I saw Shane Goggins go just before me in the jump-off and he was very quick, so I knew what I had to do. I took a stride out in the first line and then kept everything tight and kept moving up. My horse is naturally quick, and he jumped his heart out. It was a great result just before the first seven/eight-year-old qualifier for Dublin next week, which we will be competing in. It was a great show as usual put on by the Duffy family. A special thanks to Dara O’Malley for his kind sponsorship of the class and to everyone involved in our yard, a big thank you.”

Last week’s winners, Shane Goggins and Boleybawn Cayman had to be content with second place, when they finished almost two seconds slower in a time of 34.81.

Placed fifth in the opening round, Aoife McCabe and Heritage Enigma showed an improvement in form, taking third place with a clear in 35.23. Bred by Anne-Marie O’Gorman, the 11-year-old mare is by Eldorado Van De Zeshoek.

Placed third in the 1.40m Grand Prix in Millstreet, Liam O’Meara and the stallion Big Dan Rouet accounted for eventual fourth place, when they came home in 35.47.

Joyce Veld and Corraghoe Bounce accounted for fifth place, when she opted for the safer lines, delivering a clear in 39.06. Owned by Miley Dunning, this 14-year-old gelding is by Lux Z and out of the Cruising-sired dam, Corraghoe Tiger.

It was a worthwhile trip for Leinster’s Lauren Murphy, as she took sixth place with David Cullen’s Coco Du Rona Z, when they put in a foot-perfect round in 40.06 for sixth.

Home win

There was a good entry for the Gillane Feeds Premier Performance 1.20m class, with 36 combinations battling it out. The win stayed on home soil, as Mark Duffy and Caraghs Trendy Master took the top spot in this two-phase class, with a double clear in 32.28. Nadine Carey was less than a second behind with Deirdre Murnane’s Sacre Bleu, with a clear in 33.16. Lauren Murphy also collected in this class, claiming third with her own Cruiceraths Antonio, with a clear in 33.85. Shane Goggins and Clooncalagy Bobby took fourth with a clear in 35.46. Orla Dixon and Castlelawn Lux Special accounted for fifth with a clear in 36.70. Junior rider Mark Mellett and Love To Be Cruising took sixth, with a clear in 41.50.

1.10m

Orla Dixon emerged as the winner of the TK Car Sales-sponsored 1.10m class, part of the Flexneb By Nortev Connaught Showjumping 1.10m League. Riding Ravens Mister Rolo, she lodged a clear in 29.30. Placed second the week before, Amateur rider Tara Brandon (AA) repeated this performance, when she remained within the 30-second barrier, delivering a clear with the eight-year-old BEC Phoenix in a time of 29.89 for second. Slotting into third place was Richard Kerins aboard Jean Giligan’s six-year-old HHL Markievicz in a time of 34.41.

A clear in a time of 36.09 from Rachel Parry and her eight-year-old Bien Sur ensured them fourth place, while in fifth was junior rider, Mia Roberts and May Future Ri, clear in 36.32. Rounding off the top six was Abby Kelehan and Sunset Boy, with a clear in 36.76.

Devine success

Amateur riders were back in action as they also contested the Connaught Showjumping Amateur League (Including Naps/Circulo National Amateur League Qualifier). Taking the win on this occasion was Caroline Devine (A) and Captain Devine, clear in 34.62. Niamh Quinn (AA) and Clonguish Vivaro took the runner-up spot when they came home with nothing to add in 34.78. Nathan Kenny (AA) and Lachain Princess was less than a second behind in 35.46 for third place. Last of the double clears in 47.06 was Angela Devaney (A) and SVS Riverstown Aftershock, for eventual fourth. Liam Hennessy (A) and Leanorth Grey Matter proved fastest of the four-faulters in 40.33 for fifth place. Completing the top-six line-up was Karen Broderick (AA) and Hermes Van De Heffnick, when picking up four faults in 40.47.