HOT ON THE HEELS of their win in Omagh last Friday, Liam O’Meara and Mr Coolcaum made it a double when he secured the National Grand Prix victory at the Cork Summer Show last Sunday.

Speaking after the win, a delighted Liam O’Meara said; “I’m very lucky to have a great team around me. My father is a great help, I think, just like Coolcaum he’s getting better with age.

“My whole family are here today and it is really down to all of them; everyone chips in with the work and that’s how it’s possible for me to have these successes.

“I’m lucky that my Dad had plenty of experience with horses before me and I think I’ve learned so much from him and now we are reaping the rewards together.

“The whole team works very hard so it’s really nice to see it working well and be able to enjoy weekends like this.

“I think the team at the show did a great job. Despite the weather the ground wasn’t too hard which was perfect.

“Our plan now is to head to Bannow and Rathangan on Thursday (July 12th) and then head to JAG for the following round on Sunday.”

SECOND ROUND

Eight of the 23 starters made it into the jump-off. First to go against the clock was Francis Connors riding Newmarket Lady. They produced a steady clear in a time of 38.74 to set the pace.

Next in, Tim MacDonagh and Jackie Lee’s 11-year-old Beowulf mare Tick Tock Tina managed to slice over three seconds off Connors’ time to stop the clock at 35.28 and capture the lead.

Shane Goggins and Wrangler II left all the fences up but just weren’t fast enough in 36.42 which left them lying in fifth place in the final standings.

Fourth to give it a go was Sven Hadley riding Sumas Taloubet (Taloubet VDL – Pride Of Shaunlara). The pair managed to leave all the fences intact and recorded a decent time of 35.39 which was just off the mark and left them in third place overall.

O’Meara and his first mount of the decider, Helen Sheridan’s Jacomar gelding Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, were unlucky to have the first part of the double down for four faults in 34.61 which left them out of the placings.

Darragh Ryan and his own mare Oasis Spirit (Cobra – Lux Z) as next to go improved on Goggins’ time by 0.16 of a second but it was enough to slot him into fourth place.

The penultimate pair in, Jessica Burke and Bernard Jordan’s nine-year-old Vivaldo Van Het Costerveild gelding Clonguish Vivaro, had two fences down; faulting at the first part of the double and then the Irish Horse Board oxer for eight faults.

O’Meara was last to go with Mr Coolcaum. The duo were determined from the off and cutting every corner they could stopped the clock at 33.75 to steal the win from long time leader MacDonagh.

This win, added to the win in Omagh, further cements O’Meara’s lead in the league table. He has confirmed that he will be competing in the next two rounds in Bannow Rathangan and JAG so it is hard to see anyone coming close to catching him before the league final in Barnadown in September.

Sarah Connolly came out on top in the very competitive 1.20 metre final on Sunday morning. Riding her own Shinawil, she stopped the clock at 33.43 over six seconds ahead of closest rival Brian Mehigan and Air Of Attraction in 39.71.

Caroline Ryan and My Ballygill April had beaten the time in 33.19 but a fence down for four faults demoted them to third place.

Nicola O’Sullivan riding Duke Of Windsor also had a single fence down in 37.16 for fourth place.

TRIUMPH FOR TOWNEND

In the Top Oil 1.10m Ladies Championship Josephine Townend made it an impressive one-two when she finished in first and second place.

She rode One Lucky Strike to the top spot in a jump-off time of 31.80 and JT Silver Lux into the runner-up spot in 32.65.

Third place went to Melissa Joyce and Milan Cruise in 33.68 while Orla Quealy and Nour Again were fourth in 42.70, fifth went to Olivia Roycroft and her own Verona in 42.71.