IN what was a whitewash weekend for Ballypatrick Stables, Greg Broderick asserted his lead at the head of the Horseware Ireland/TRM-sponsored New Heights Champions Series leader board when landing the spoils in the second leg of the €10,000 feature class at Ballinasloe last Sunday.

Winner of the opening leg in Louth County last month, Broderick guided Molly Tracy’s Chinook II to the fastest time when first to go in the nine horse jump-off. Not content with the win, Broderick also took the runner-up spot aboard Gretchen Biedron’s Charmeur.

The former mount of Irish international show jumper Anthony Condon, Chinnok II, a 10-year-old gelding by Verdi, was purchased by Tracy at the beginning of the season. Campaigned by her daughter Veronica at the Spanish sunshine tour in Spain, Broderick made the best use of his catch ride in Ballinasloe.

“I’m delighted to win two in a row. Both are new horses for me this season. I had the loan of Chinook from Veronica Tracy for the weekend, she takes back the ride in Mullingar this weekend and I will compete him in the international classes at Bolesworth in a few weeks time,” Broderick said afterwards.

“I am very pleased with Charmeur, he has been really consistent and feels like he is ready to move up to the next level at this stage.”

The 2014 National Champion has made a good opening bid at winning that title for a second time.

He competes in the third round at Mullingar International this weekend, before missing the round at Galway Co Show, now relocated to Duffy’s Equestrian Centre, as it clashes with the four-star show in Bolesworth.

“National Champion wasn’t my goal at the start of the year, but if it happens it happens,” he added.

Thirty combinations took on the strong Paul Duffy-designed 1.50m course and just nine of those made it through to the jump-off. Both Broderick and Francis Connors were double-handed in the second round.

With the time from the first round playing a factor in the order of the jump-off, Broderick had the unfortunate draw of playing pathfinder with Chinook II. However, Broderick stuck to his plan and got the jump-off off to a great start when breaking the beam in 35.54 seconds to set the standard.

The next four riders all faulted before Broderick returned with his second mount, Charmeur, the winner of the Grand Prix in Louth County, and slotted him into second place in a time of 37.18.

Liam O’Meara, the danger man in any jump-off, followed with the ever consistent Mr Coolcaum and he too produced a clear round, albeit in a slower time of 45.07 seconds to take up third position.

Francis Connors produced the only other double clear round of the competition when second last into the ring with Stacey Babes and Mary Ann Papp’s Centolina RB, clear in 45.07 seconds for fourth place.

Local Ballinasloe-based rider Jenny Rankin was unlucky to fault at the first fence in the jump-off and aboard Richard Bourns’ Baccarat and took up fifth place in 38.88, ahead of the previous day’s Grand Prix winner Darragh Ryan, who this time guided his own and Greg Broderick’s Areosmith to sixth in 39.33 seconds.

Both Nicholas Butler (Vimminka) and Tholm Keane (BMH Big Time) were caught out at the bogey TRM oxer at the last to finish in seventh and eighth place respectively.

Broderick now holds a decisive lead with 20 points. The next leg of the New Heights Champions Series takes place on Monday at Mullingar International.