JAMES Hogg emerged as the man to beat in the northern region on a weekend that saw a double header of the Gain/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix league run concurrently at opposite ends of the country, at Eglinton and Maryville equestrian centres.

Hogg closed the curtain on the four-day Northern Indoor Championships when he and Almost Persuaded won Sunday’s €5,000 feature class, sponsored by the Eglinton Equestrian Club.

Speaking to The Irish Field Hogg said: “Almost Persuaded jumped really well here last year and it was a show I was looking forward to. It’s a unique arena it has a fantastic atmosphere. The mare has been knocking on the door for a while now, I thought we were due a win and she really fought the whole way around for me.”

Commenting on the jump-off, Hogg said: “I had jumped around with Always On My Mind, which helped me get the feel of the course, but I was in two minds whether to take the inside turn to the double. There was only one clear round at that point but I knew there were a few fast riders after me so I felt I had to put the pressure on them.”

Hogg’s plan for British course designer Ian Clarke’s shortened and raised course proved well executed when the clock showed a time of 37.56 seconds, a time that none of his rivals could better. Hogg finished eighth with his other mount, having logged a time of 42.14 and four faults, but Always On My Mind had finished third earlier in the day in the 1.30m Championship.

Acquired by Hogg as a foal through the Cavan sales ring, Almost Persuaded is by Ard VDL Douglas out of the Brush Aside-sired dam Lady Dreamer. Produced by Hogg through the HSI Irish Studbook Showjumping Series, the nine-year-old mare has continued in her progression becoming a dependable mount at this level.

While Hogg has plans to follow the remaining legs of the league he will miss out on this week’s round at Wexford as the newly engaged northern rider will be having a rare weekend away with his fiancée Niamh Harding.

Simon Scott claimed the runner-up position as the only other rider to complete the class on a zero score. Scott, riding the seven-year-old Jasmine Tide, stopped the clock at 43.60. The Kroongraaf mare already has experience at this level having featured in the legs of the Ulster Region Summer Tour at Enniskillen and Antrim.

Jonathan Smyth was the fastest of the four faulters on the day with Charlton Clio. Taking on the course directly after Hogg, Smyth showed the time could be beaten when the clock showed 34.25 but proved out of luck when the penultimate vertical was left minus its top rail.

Smyth has had an exceptionally successful season, finishing second overall in the Ulster Region Summer Tour, winning the opening 1.35/1.40m Young Rider class at the Dublin Horse Show as well as taking the runners-up position in Saturday’s Eglinton Irish Masters.

Emily Turkington also made it within striking distance of the winning time with Legend but faulted early breaking the beam in 37.58. Turkington is another rider enjoying considerable success at the moment fresh off a 1.35m victory at the Cavan Indoor Championships with Legend. The pair also triumphed in the leg of the National Grand Prix league in the Meadows EC at the end of August.

Hannah Patterson gave both the show organisers and Hogg a few tense minutes as the final rider in the clocked round. In touch for the €2,000 bonus on offer to the winner of the Masters if they can also win the Grand Prix, Patterson put in a superb effort aboard Douglas W but proved just off the mark when the final fence came down in 38.46.

Peter Smyth filled the next two placings. A single error with the Windmill Uno in 40.08 secured sixth position while finishing just outside the top six was HHS 007.