Emer Bermingham

GREG Broderick added yet another title to his already impressive record last Sunday at Coilóg when he finished as the leading rider in the Horseware/TRM Premier Series league on a total of 52 points.

Along with the leading rider title, he was also crowned the Showjumping Ireland National Show Jumping Champion.

It has been a memorable year for the reigning national Grand Prix champion as he recorded a series of wins in the past 12 months.

Riding Arraghbeg Clover, he took the €45,000 Irish Breeders Classic Final last September before travelling to Lanaken, where the combination took the five-year-old crown in the World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses.

Only last month, Broderick added another three titles to his tally when claiming the four, five and six-year-old Horse Sport Ireland Young Horse classes at the RDS.

The leading horse of the Premier Series, finishing on 41 points, was Caledonia Stables’ MHS Going Global. By Quidam Junior 1 and out of Gowran Lady, the eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse recorded a win in Cork and Tattersalls and was runner-up at National Balmoral.

Broderick may have taken the title but he didn’t have it all his own way as Meath native Alexander Butler led the victory lap in the final leg. Riding Ladycastle Syndicate’s 12-year-old Nabab De Reve mare, Vimminka, Butler took the lion’s share of the €10,000 prize fund in the Kilmeague Landscape Services and Showjumping Ireland sponsored class.

Broderick said: “It has been a great year for Ballypatrick Stables and I would like to thank my owners and my staff for their support. The plan from the start of the year was to win the Premier Series and the National Championship and it is always good to achieve your goals.

“I am so pleased with all the horses, MHS Going Global, Rincarina, Golden Exchange, and especially Javas Keltic Mist who stepped up to 1.50m today.”

Commenting on the final showdown the rider added: “The aim was to win the Premier Series so I was happy enough to finish second today. I didn’t push for a win as I knew I had done enough to win the series. I am delighted for Alex, who has been hot on my tail on more than one occasion. Alex and his team deserved the win today.”

Equally pleased, Alexander Butler said: “I am delighted with the win as it was a challenging course, in fact I would say it’s one of the biggest that I jumped this year.

“I am pleased with how the mare handled the course. She has really come on and I think next year she will come out an even better horse. The plan now is compete in the Irish Breeders Classic and then myself and Broderick will be heading to Arezzo to compete.”

Although Broderick finished as runner-up to Butler on the day, second place was enough to secure him the two titles and an extra bonus of €5,000 for the National Champion title.

Only Gerard Clarke could have denied Broderick the crown, but with Clarke failing to progress to the second round, Broderick went into the second round knowing that he couldn’t be beaten.

challenge

As expected, the final round was a competitive one and international course designer Tom Holden set the challenge. The course was up to standard, with time (79 seconds) being a factor in the first round.

Although no particular fence stood out as a problem, fence five, a tall skinny vertical and the combination, which consisted of a double of verticals to an oxer, demanded careful riding. The final oxer which stood at 1.50m high and 1.60m wide also needed full attention.

From the 28 starters, seven combinations progressed to the second round, six of which were on zero faults, while one was carrying a single time fault.

First to go in the second round, Capt Geoff Curran and Mullaghbane once again kept the poles in the cups but crossing the line in 53.04 meant that he had added another time penalty to his first round score, to finish on a total of two faults for eventual third place.

Double-handed in the second round, Broderick had his first look at the course with Javas Keltic Mist. He negotiated a good turn back to fence 14 and again to the last line, which saw him go clear with nothing to add to his first round tally in 50.43 and take the lead.

Next in, things didn’t go according to plan for junior rider Philip Carey. Riding Ton Soleil F, Carey first faulted at fence five and again at 14, which meant he finished on a total score of eight faults in 49.44 for seventh place.

After finishing second to Broderick on a few occasions this year, Alexander Butler meant business as he cantered in on Vimminka. Butler set off in a blistering pace and negotiated all the tight lines, but in the end it was the daring gallop to the last that saw him record the winning time of 45.45 seconds and demote Broderick into second.

Tomas O’Brien and Amaretto tried to challenge for the lead but his hopes of a win were dashed when they faulted at fence five and at 14. A total score of eight faults in 47.90 proved good enough for sixth place.

All eyes were on Edward Butler to see if he could demote his brother. Setting off at a strong pace with Cornet Son, Butler proved out of luck when faulting at fence five and then again at six to finish on a total of eight faults in 47.30, just ahead of O’Brien in the line-up.

Last to go with MHS Going Global, Broderick set off at a calculated pace but he fell victim to fence five and his total score of four faults in 45.48 saw him slot into fourth place.

On hand to present the prizes, Larry Masterson of sponsor TRM said: “The Premier Series is a showcase of show jumping excellence and it is great to be a part of it. TRM have just committed to another three years sponsorship of show jumping and we hope that our contribution will help advance show jumping in Ireland.”

It was a good weekend for Broderick, who had kicked off with a win in the penultimate leg of the Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix on Saturday.

Last to go, riding Noel Cawley’s mare Rincarina, Broderick was the fastest in the 14-way jump-off. Going clear in 44.87, he took home the winner’s share of the €4,000 on offer in the Coilog Catering 4 You-sponsored class.

Alexander Butler took an early lead with Will Wimble, when galloping home in 45.74 seconds, but despite a great attempt, had to accept the runner-up spot.

All wasn’t lost for Butler as he also took fourth with Vimminka when clear in 48.03, while his brother Edward took fifth with Caugherty, clear in 48.28.

Eddie Moloney and Chatsworth Dan were fast against the clock, lodging a clear round in 47.52 to take third place.

Thomas O’Brien’s decision to play it safe with Amaretto paid off as he recorded a clear in 50.19 for sixth place.