DARRAGH Ryan’s phenomenal winning form of late continued when landing the Rumbles Catering-sponsored Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix at the Ballinasloe show grounds last Saturday.
Riding Paul Carr’s Zuidam (Guidam x Indoctro), Ryan, who is based at Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables in Thurles, was the fastest of a hugely competitive 18-horse jump-off to land the lions share of the €4,000 prize fund.
Speaking after the class, Ryan said: “I haven’t ridden him since the November show in Cavan last year but he’s a fairly simple horse to ride. He is very quick against the clock.
“I was very tight back to the double and he helped me out a lot, he tried very hard there, and then sure you need a bit of luck everywhere if you are going to win.
Now the regular mount of Adrienne Dixon, who trains with Broderick, Ryan added on the 13-year-old chesnut stallion: “He is a school master now at this stage so it’s nice to be able to get a spin on him every so often.
“Adrienne takes back the ride for Mullingar and we will see after that, if I can fight him back off her I will try. She had a couple of good placings with him in Spain and France so she has the hang of him too.”
The 20-year-old young rider has qualified an incredible seven horses for the Dublin Horse Show after just two qualifiers. “I have seven through so far – one more five-year-old to go hopefully, with a bit of luck. It’s fairly unbelievable really, I can’t really believe it myself.
“There are some very good young horses in Ballypatrick and I’m very lucky to be able to ride them and very thankful to Greg and everyone at the yard. Everyone chips in and it’s a very good team.”
COMPETITIVE
Thirty-three lined out over Paul Duffy’s 1.40m track, and 19 of those jumped clear in the first round.
With the following day’s New Heights Champions Series in mind, Edward Doyle decided to withdraw Derryinver Luxury Cruise so 18 combinations went forward to the timed round.
Current league leader Liam O’Meara was double-handed, as was Robert Harrison, and veteran Francis Connors guided three into the jump-off.
Midway to go in the second round, Ryan took every risk on the windy track and a great turn back to the penultimate double saw him break the beam in 34.20, and, despite a rub at the last, he was the only rider to finish within 34 seconds.
O’Meara, having already clocked a double clear with his first mount Lincourt Lux, was looking to extend his league lead even further when last go with Helen Sheridan’s Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight.
Winner of the league in Thomastown, Barnadown, Cavan and Galway Equestrian, O’Meara set off at pace and clocked a decent time of 35.67 to take the runner-up placing.
Young rider Tim MacDonagh was next best in third place with his mother Jackie Lee’s Tick Tock Tina. Tim, who spent the winter months at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, clocked a clear round in 37.85 seconds.
Francis Connors occupied the next two places. The former National Champion guided Ian Smyth’s Capitol Cruis into fourth place in 38.10, ahead of the Hilda Anthony-owned Lates du Carel (0/0 38.39).
O’Meara was sixth with Lincourt Lux (0/0 43.00), ahead of Martin Hynes and Rockhill Harlequin, who had to settle for seventh place, clocking 43.11 when first to go.
O’Meara still holds a massive 35-point lead on the leader board with 51 points. The next round takes place at Mullingar International today.