GREG Broderick ensured an impressive launch of the TRM/Horseware New Heights Champions Series (NHCS) with a decisive win in the opening round at Louth County Show.

Showcasing his new mount Charmeur on the national circuit for the first time, Olympian Broderick had over three seconds over his nearest rival to claim the honours in Sunday’s €10,000 feature class.

A new purchase this season for New Jersey woman Pearl Biedron, the 10-year-old Charmeur has already shown good form under Broderick on the Sunshine Tour at Vejer de la Frontera, finishing in the top six in a 1.55m Grand Prix.

Sourced from Paul McAteer in the United Kingdom, the Calvaro Z-sired gelding had previously jumped up to 1.45m level under Kayleigh Watts and Jodie Hall McAteer.

Broderick said: “I went to try Charmeur with Michael Quirke and Brian Cassidy and I just got a great feeling from him. It’s great to have one for the top level after the sale of MHS Going Global. Pearl’s daughter Rose trains with us at Ballypatrick stables and after this year, where I get the horse some experience, she will take up the reins.”

Broderick continued: “It takes a bit of time to get a horse used to a new system so I’m delighted with the result. He felt fantastic and I feel he learned a lot on the Sunshine Tour. I’d like to compliment the show organisers of Louth County, especially Mary Mahon for running such a good show. A lot of these grass shows are dying out which would be a loss to the sport. The ground was fantastic here and they made us feel very welcome.”

While next on the agenda for Broderick is the three-star Nations Cup fixture in Drammen in May, the Co. Tipperary-based rider’s Ballypatrick Stables also has some up and coming young horses to look out for. Broderick commented: “Charmeur is still stepping up, so it will be great to get to Drammen to gain some experience and hopefully after that aim for some of the Super League Nations Cup.

“I have some really nice seven and eight-year-old horses coming through too that I’m excited about. I was second in the 1.30m this morning with a seven-year-old by Kannan, Billy Pringle. I own him with Shane Breen and I’m very excited about him – I think he has a great future ahead.”

Course designer Tom Holden set the challenge for the 28 starting combinations, which yielded nine clear rounds. A fitting test for the first 1.50m of the year, no one fence played a huge part in denying riders their place in the jump-off, although the second obstacle, a tall vertical uphill, came down consistently.

Young rider Max O’Reilly Hyland played pathfinder in the seeded jump-off and set the bar high for the remaining competitors when delivering a clear round on Ahmed Du Calvaire in a time of 48.31 seconds.

O’Reilly Hyland has been paired with the 11-year-old Cerano-sired gelding from May of last season and the pair were part of the Young Rider team that won gold at last year’s Young Rider European Championships in Millstreet.

Neal Fearon, the runner-up in Saturday’s Grand Prix, immediately upped the pace with Cohiba VDL coming home in 46.32 but a single error at the halfway point of the shortened and raised course put them out of contention.

The winning combination at this venue in 2015, Alexander Butler and Hallowberry Cruz, put in an impressive challenge to the time but the final gallop to the last didn’t pay off. The resulting four faults in a time of 45.43 would prove good enough for the top six.

Greg Broderick threw down the gauntlet for the remaining riders when blitzing O’Reilly Hyland’s time with Charmeur. Keeping his use of Louth County’s expansive main ring to the absolute minimum, Broderick set the new time to beat at 44.99.

Kenneth Graham, fresh from the previous day’s win in the National Grand Prix with George, would have undoubtedly liked to pull off the double but had his hopes dashed early when the second fence came down. Graham recorded a time of 47.56 seconds.

Sophie Dalm, as the initial rider in the first round, had delivered a foot-perfect round aboard Remake Lande and didn’t disappoint on her second time out with a repeat performance. Putting in a tactical round, Dalm didn’t make an attempt at Broderick’s time instead logging 47.78 to slot into second place.

By Hym D’Isigny, out of a Nidor Platiere dam, the 12-year-old Remake Lande was the winner of the International Grand Prix at Mullingar under Dalm last season. The northern-based rider is another to have spent the beginning of the season at Vejer de la Frontera. Dalm had a good weekend, also finishing in the top six in the Mervue Equine 1.35m with the eight-year-old Jack Van Het Dennehof.

Damien Griffin was the only other rider on the day to keep a clean sheet on his second time out. Riding the 12-year-old Captain Clover-sired Tabby, Griffin ensured his clear round with a more sedate time of 49.95 and subsequently secured the green rosette.

Nicholas Butler was put out of contention early when Vimminka had the back bar on the first obstacle but, at this late stage of the clocked round, knew that a fast four faults would be valuable.

Never easing off the pace, Butler managed to match Broderick’s speed with the clock showing an identical time of 44.99, albeit carrying four faults.

The final rider to take it on was Darryl Walker with Cushions. The 2015 National Grand Prix Champion, Walker’s speed credentials were never in question and he logged a time of 46.55 but slipped down the line up when the final fence came down.

The next round of the NHCS will take place at Ballinsloe Show on May 28th.