THOLM Keane came out on top in a competitive Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix, sponsored by Walsh Heating & Plumbing and Martin Flesk Plumbing, at Galway County Show in Duffy’s Equestrian Centre last Saturday.
Riding James Buckley and Caroline Teltsch’s eight-year-old stallion BMH Big Time (Luidam x Cavalier Royale), Keane was the fastest of five double clear rounds to secure victory in the 10th round of the series, taking home the lion’s share of the €4,000 on offer.
Forty-five combinations started over the 1.40m track, with 14 of those making it through to the timed round. Five of those combinations managed to jump clear the second time out.
Gort girl Jessica Burke, fresh from her win in the Connacht Grand Prix on Friday, was the slowest of the clears to slot into fifth place with Liam Nicholas’ Express Trend in 57.81 seconds.
Francis Connors guided Newmarket Clare Lady, owned by Billy Daly, to fourth in 53.55 second. The top three riders were all within the 46 seconds mark.
Michael Duffy rode Lady Georgina Forbes’ eight-year-old Castleforbes Vladimir into third place, with a clear in 46.36, just fractions behind Cormac Rafferty and his wife Aoife’s KMR Benzini, who broke the beam in 46.15 for the runner-up position.
Current league leader Liam O’Meara made it through to the jump-off but four faults in 46.48 seconds meant he had to settle for seventh place with Mr Coolcaum, behind young Jack Ryan and Cavalier Teaca, who picked up the leading young rider prize when finishing in sixth.
The next round of the National Grand Prix takes place tomorrow (Sunday) at Charleville Show.
YOUNG HORSE CLASSES
Despite not being allocated a leg of the ISH Studbook Series this year, Galway County showed great initiative to keep show jumping alive in the west when running their own Devenish Nutrition-sponsored five-year-old and six-year-old final, with a generous prize fund of €2,500 in each class.
The five-year-old final was shared between the four double clear rounds of Olive Clarke (Aisling’s Clover), Kevin McCabe (Mona Lisa Quality), Gerard Clarke Jnr (King Lupin) and Shane Goggins (Con Diamond Dazzler), each taking home a decent prize of €593.
Some 22 competitors started in the six-year-old final and three of those returned with a double clear round. Riding Hollystown Miss Lupin, Gerald Clarke Jnr emerged victorious with a double clear in a time of 33.39 seconds, to secure the winner’s prize of €750. Local girl Aoife McCabe slotted into second place with her own Paciro in 34.63, just one place ahead of her bother Kevin McCabe, who was riding Aoife’s Lexus Quality, clear in 34.73.
Galway man Sven Hadley took home the leading rider prize.