IT was a well worthwhile trip to Cork last weekend for Kilkenny’s Ger O’Neill as he took victory in three of the feature classes at Maryville Stables and also shared the top honours in the host-sponsored SJI National Grand Prix on Sunday with Nicholas Butler.

Both riders, O’Neill riding Clim Bim and Butler riding Vimminka, lodged the winning clear in 43.52 seconds.

This was the final win of the day for O’Neill having also taken the honours in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series six-year-old division and then later in the day victory in the seven-year-old division as well.

Speaking after the class, Nicholas Butler said: “I thought I had done enough to win the class but you can never be sure until the last horse jumps. It was very unusual that we both clocked the same time, especially when the horses are completely different in terms of size.”

Ger O’Neill added: “I was behind Nicholas’ time at the third last and I knew I had to up the pace to catch him. It has been a great day, winning the three classes, it’s something that I have never done before. The surface here in Maryville is top class and it’s what we need to produce young horses and to keep horses and riders in Ireland.”

Owned by Peig Van Amerongen, Clim Bim is a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare by Cassus out of the Quidam de Revel-sired Quinta. This is a new partnership for O’Neill having taken over the mare from Neal Fearon in early June. On their first outing at Coilog, the pair finished second in the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour. The pairing also made their debut on the European circuit and in Lier, Belgium, they finished fifth in the CSI2* Table A. Prior to this, the mare was campaigned by Michael G. Duffy and before that Cameron Hanley. Under Hanley’s command, the mare proved successful at CSI3* level.

Owned by Ladycastle Syndicate, Vimminka has proved to be a loyal servant for the Butler family with a host of results at home and abroad. The week before at Tattersalls, the combination finished runner-up in the TRM/Horseware New Heights Champions Series. In Balmoral under Alexander’s command, she took the win in the CSI2* two-phase. Prior to this she was third in Vilamoura CSI3*.

Bred by Fam Verhey Scheulder, the mare (KWPN) is well related, by Nabab De Reve out of the Topas-sired Naminka. Ladycastle Syndicate have bred from the mare and currently have two four-year-olds starting their careers. Ladycastle Diego and Ladycastle Paco are both by Pacino and have competed with Butler in training classes and are showing good promise of following in their mother’s footsteps. Course designer Tom Holden set the challenge for the 32 starters. Of those, seven delivered clears in the first round and five delivered double clears.

First to go with Cruising Star, Waterford rider Paul Beecher set the bar high when he delivered the first double clear in 48.03, which would later prove good enough for fifth place. This was the second good result for Beecher having also finished third in the Munster Grand Prix the day before with Asti.

Double-handed in the jump-off, O’Neill had his first look at the course with Go For It, but four faults at the first in a time of 48.20 proved good enough for sixth place.

Next up, Tholm Keane wasted no time with BMH Big Time. The Waterford rider, first took a tight line to the double and this matched with a good turn back to the water tray and then on to the final oxer, saw him stop the clock in 44.98 for third place.

The first of the winning rounds was delivered by Nicholas Butler and Vimminka. The Co Meath rider made up the time from the double back to the Maryville Stables oxer and a quick pace for the remainder of the course saw him clock 43.52 seconds.

Winner of the Grand Prix in Bannow and Rathangan, Francis Connors also kept it tight with Bobby Flynn’s Hyperion, but a clear in 45.01 saw him finish behind Keane.Last to go, Ger O’Neill knew what he needed to do to take the win. Setting off in a determined pace with Clim Bim, he made up time towards the end of the course and stopped the clock in 43.52.

The next round of the series takes place on the last weekend of August at Pilltown Show. Top of the leaderboard is Liam O’Meara on 79 points. His closest rival is Francis Connors on 46 points, followed by Ger O’Neill on 32 points.