IT was a double bill of the SJI Autumn Grand Prix League last weekend with Northern Indoor Championships in Eglinton hosting a 1.35m on Friday and the 1.40m on Sunday afternoon.
In the 1.35m round, victory stayed north as Tyrone Peter’s Smyth topped the leaderboard with Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick.
One of 14 in the jump-off from a starting field of 36, he lodged a clear in 28.58 seconds. Owned by Robin Bingham and bred by Dorothea Wilson from Antrim, the nine-year-old mare is by Limmerick and out of the Lux Z-sired Go Luckey.
Donegal rider Simon Scott was fractions behind with Ploverfield Lilyana, clear in 28.91 for second. Bred by Frank O’Connor in Cork, this nine-year-old mare is by Eurocommerce Pittsburg and out of the Last News-sired Ploverfield Lastnews.
Not content with second, Scott took another share of the prize fund when he partnered Master Millar to a clear in 34.96 for sixth place. Bred by Diane Warrington from Kildare, the seven-year-old gelding is by OBOS Quality 004 and out of the Clover Flush mare Oakville Clover
Keen to make his presence felt, Liam O’Meara delivered a foot-perfect performance with Russel Style but in a slower time of 29.54 for third. A past winner in the championship, Frank Curran had his foot firmly to the floor with Ardragh Chekoff, but a clear in 29.66 would only prove good enough for fourth on this occasion.
Longford’s Robert Harrison also kept all the poles in place with Landlystes Rubina in 32.38 to finish fifth.
O’Meara in front
On Sunday, National Grand Prix Champion Liam O’Meara upped the ante to claim victory in the 1.40m Grand Prix. Riding M&P Coffey’s Oldtown KC, he delivered the winning round in the nine-horse jump-off in a time of 30.41 seconds.
Delighted with the win, O’Meara said: “It’s a five-hour drive up to Eglinton but it was a well worthwhile trip. It is a show that I really enjoy as the atmosphere is always electric and the spectators really enjoy the jumping. I was very pleased with all the horses.
“Oldtown KC has not been with me that long, but he is super consistent. Russel Style jumped very well and was placed in the first Grand Prix. My seven-year-old, Could be Anything, jumped very well in the Masters, which was a very competitive class.
“I plan to take in the round at Portmore and then aim for Cavan International.”
In total, 30 went to post and of those, nine proceeded the timed round. Robert Harrison held his form from the previous class to slot into second place with Landlystes Rubina, when clear in 31.56. This 11-year-old Danish-bred mare is by Heartbeat and out of Niquinta.
Filling third was Katie Conlon with Ping Ball when clear in 33.70, ahead of Richard Kerins who delivered a perfect round with Korena Byrne’s Small Change in 34.48. Peter Smyth was back in the ribbons when claiming fifth with Roscrib de Ross, clear in 34.58. Completing the top-six line-up was Brendan Murphy and Milchem Gorgeous, clear in 35.73.
On Saturday night it was a full house for the €3,000 Irish Masters with 16 combinations battling it out over the five rounds. Just two combinations kept all the poles in place over the five rounds and the faster of those was Peter Smyth and John Fee’s Des Le Debut in 41.68 to take victory.
Robert Harrison’s clear with Landlystes Rubina in 48.36 saw him take second. Hannah Patterson and Douglas W finished on four faults in 45.58 for third, ahead of Liam O’Meara and Could Be Anything in 46.40.
1.30m Speed Championship
On Saturday, Katie Conlon claimed first and second in the 1.30m speed. Riding Marble Arch Equine’s Interpreter, she lodged the winning round in 53.96 seconds. Riding her second mount, Bally Kingdom Clover, a clear in 54.64 saw her take second place. Simon Scott was just over a second behind with Luz’s Like Candy in 55.56 for third.
1.30m Open Championship
Little separated the top three placings in the 1.30m open championship but in the end a clear in 28.20 saw Lewis Trenier and Trickin Around clinch victory. Fractions of a second behind was Brendan Murphy and Immun Ocean Ogana, who clocked 28.80, while Katie Conlon added to her tally when she slotted Bally Kingdom Clover into third, when clear in 29.06.
1.20m Championship
A clear in a time of 29.10 seconds ensured Megan McGettigan and Ballinamurra Eargon victory in the 1.20m championship. Simon Scott added to his haul, when he delivered a clear with Luxs Like Candy in 31.01, while Stephen Smith and Cottage Girl clocked 33.80 for third.
1.10m championship
Winner of the 1.10m championship was Johnathan Smyth and Coolrock Sweetheart, when they crossed the line with nothing to add in 33.43. Less than a second behind was Lynne Russell and Alaska, in 34.28, ahead of Johnathan Smyth and By the Way, clear in 35.28.
1m Championship
Taking the win in the 1m Championship was Dullerton Gold Girl ridden by Karl Kee when fastest of the eight double clears in 24.30. Fiona Thompson and O’Harabrook followed closely behind in a time of 24.60 for second, while in third were Kerry Taggart and Dark BeforeDawn, in 24.76.
1.10m young rider championship Shane McCloskey and Candy Cane lead the victory lap in the 1.10m young rider championship when they delivered the only double clear, in a time of 36.03 seconds. Elle Johnson proved that the time could be beaten when she clocked 34.18 with Cadence Dreamer, but it came at a price as she crossed the line with four faults for second. Caoimhe Chambers also had a pole on the ground with Elite Clover in 33.45 for third.
1.20m young rider championship
It was a good weekend for Conlon, who also took the win in the 1.20m young rider championship with Interpreter when clear in 27.51. The only other double clear was delivered by Brendan Murphy and Ferdumelion in a time of 28.36. Fastest of the four faulters in 36.38 was Elle Johnson and Tawnmore Lux Furious.
Four-year-old Championship
Winner of the four-year-old champions ship was Mellissa Tinney riding Ardragh Dancing Lady. Bred by Oliver Ward and owned by Jennifer Leeper, the mare is by Dancing Boy and out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Lady Ardragh.