GREG Broderick scored the first of back-to-back wins at the National Balmoral Championships when triumphant in the Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix with Billy Pringle.

Coming at the midway point of the jump-off, Broderick had a decisive victory when setting the standard at a clear round in a time of 53.18 seconds, clear of his nearest rival by nearly two seconds.

Monday’s victory in the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges and Friends of National Balmoral-sponsored class was an impressive Grand Prix debut for the seven-year-old Billy Pringle.

Bred by Donal Barnwell of the Billy Stud, Billy Pringle is by Kannan out of the Drummer-sired dam Spectrum. Produced through the six-year-old divisions on the Costa del Sol tour in Mijas at the end of last season by British rider Lucy Townley, Broderick has already showcased Billy Pringle’s talent with a top six finish in the seven and eight-year-old RDS qualifier at Barnadown.

Greg Broderick said: “I bought the horse at the beginning of the year with Shane Breen. He’s a very exciting horse. I also jumped Gretchen Biedron’s seven-year-old All Gold Des Isles, I think they are two real top horses for the future.”

The Rafael Suarez-designed course yielded 14 clears from the starting 47 with a further three combinations completing with only a single time penalty. Clem McMahon opted to focus his two mounts on the New Heights Champions Series making it an even 12 into the timed decider.

Jenny Rankin proved next fastest on the day with Tullibards Bennys Legacy logging a time of 55.10 and showing the form that would see the pair feature in third place in the following day’s 1.50m class.

Sean Monaghan made it home in 56.50 with Caius, which would secure eventual third place. The young rider has only been paired with the 13-year-old Caretino-sired stallion since last month but the partnership has already yielded dividends with Monaghan also picking up the yellow rosette in the leg of the league in Omagh.

Anna Caraway and Ajaccio logged a solid double clear round in 59.01. Caraway was recently announced as a member of the young rider team that will represent Ireland at the European Championships in Slovakia next month.

Susan Fitzpatrick was the only other rider to complete with a double clear on the day. Riding the seven-year-old Je T’Aime Flamenco-sired Fellow Castlefield, Fitzpatrick was the first rider to post a faultless round in the jump-off, setting the original benchmark at 60.37.

Peter Smyth put in the fastest round of the day with Cavalier Rusticana, across the line in 49.58, but a single error meant he had to settle for eventual sixth place.