FRANCIS Connors secured his third Millstreet International Grand Prix title at the Green Glens Arena in Co. Cork last Sunday, producing the only double clear performance in the €25,000 GMHD/Noel C. Duggan Engineering sponsored class with Hugh Fitzpatrick’s home-bred mare Erne Lady Goldilocks.

Having tipped a rail at the first part of the Dolmen Double with his first mount, Newmarket Clare Lady, the Co. Waterford rider had an opportunity to watch the competition unfold before entering the arena with his second ride. Drawn fifth to go, Cian Harrison was the first to secure his place in the second round, clear in a time of 77.78 seconds.

Two combinations later, John Floody joined Harrison having jumped clear with Ballyknock Diamond. Course designers Olaf Herrmann from Germany and Kerry native James Tarrant had set a testing but fair 1.45m track on the much-discussed new sand and fibre surface in the International Arena which was warmly welcomed by all who jumped on it during the course of the week.

The double of verticals which came up two fences from home proved influential, denying several riders a clear round, including Kelda Morgan, Ciaran Nallon and Damien Griffin.

Mullingar native Roisin Fagan got up close and personal with the new surface when unfortunately parting company with Ikan at the second element of the double.

As poles fell with increasing regularity throughout the remainder of the first round, it became inevitable that the fastest four faulters would be included in the 28% of starters guaranteed a position in Round 2 which would take place over a new course.

HOTTING UP

As the consistent rain started to clear away, the competition began to truly heat up, with clear rounds coming from Cormac Rafferty (KMR Benzini) and 2016 Young Rider Team Gold Medallist Max O’Reilly Hyland (Ahmed du Calvaire) in quick succession. On his second visit to Millstreet, British rider Graham Lovegrove slotted in to second place with Centolove just before local rider Olivia Roycroft secured her place in the deciding round with Westpalstown Lady.

With six clear rounds to date, a battle for the lower placings was emerging; each clear round now denying a four-faulter their jump-off place. Francis Connors came forward with Erne Lady Goldilocks knowing that a faultless performance would take him out of contention with his previous ride.

That proved to be the case as he delivered a calm and collected clear in 83.20 seconds.

Having enjoyed success with Galway Bay Liath in Saturday’s Millstreet Masters under more favourable weather conditions, Capt. Geoff Curran was first to face the deciding round and set a good target of clear in a time of 49.39 seconds with Dollanstown, carrying four faults after lowering the first fence in the first round.

A member of Ireland’s gold medal-winning Pony Team at the European Championships in Hungary just the weekend previously, Ciaran Nallon moved in to second place after a clear round with Elan HJB. Faults at the Viking Boat and Red Oxer kept Shane Goggins (Defi Bigtime) out of contention while the in-form Mikey Pender rode one of the tightest turns to the penultimate Sextant upright but unfortunately lowered the fence that followed to secure him an eventual eighth place.

The next of the four-faulters from Round One, Damien Griffin turned the heat up with Tabby, posting a time just 0.2 seconds behind that of Curran to take fourth place in the final standings.

The first of the combinations carrying a zero score from the first round, Francis Connors entered the arena with Erne Lady Goldilocks and proceeded to leave all of the fences standing, stopping the clock at 52.57 seconds.

Those that followed knew that this time could be beaten but not without the risk of incurring jumping faults.

Max O’Reilly Hyland looked set to overtake Connors, clear and over one-tenth of a second up on the target time at the halfway mark on the course with Ahmed du Calvaire.

However, the Red Oxer two fences from home played its part once again and O’Reilly Hyland had to settle for fifth place at the end of the competition.

British challenger

British challenger Graham Lovegrove (Centolove) was last but one in to the arena and was determined to make it a British Grand Prix win for the second year running. Despite posting the fastest time of the second round, Lovegrove’s hopes were dashed at the penultimate oxer when the back rail came down to secure him second place overall and a cheque for €5,000.

As John Floody (Ballyknock Diamond) went out of contention with two rails down, the celebrations began in the pocket for Francis Connors as he realized that he had earned his third victory in the Millstreet International Grand Prix with an Irish Sport Horse mare by Ard VDL Douglas that was born just months before his most recent win in 2007 with Merlin’s Magic.

“I knew going back in that I wasn’t going to be the fastest,” said Connors after the presentation.

“The new surface here is an unbelievable improvement and all my horses have jumped well on it all week.”