CLEAR rounds proved very elusive in Millstreet’s highlight competition, the €25,000 Noel C. Duggan Engineering Millstreet International Grand Prix CSI2* last Sunday evening.
Plenty of tough questions were asked over Germamy’s Olaf Herrmann’s stiff and technical track and so the eventual victory scored by Donegal’s Kenneth Graham with William Lapsey’s game Touchdown-sired George was all the sweeter in the final shake-up.
The contesting field was mixed, varying from young riders experiencing their first International Grand Prix class to seasoned campaigners. From the outset, the track challenged throughout with almost every line causing a problem for competitors and cricket scores aplenty were racked up with quite a few horses knocked out of their rhythm in the adjusted 75 seconds allowed.
Thrilled with the victory, Graham, who received the winner’s share of €8,250, said: “I’m delighted with the win, the horse jumped super. It’s a long time to Millstreet from Donegal and to win the Grand Prix here is very special. Many thanks to everyone, the owner William Lapsey and all at Millstreet Horse Show.”
Long wait
Of the 45 combinations on the startlist, it was not until Ballypatrick Flamenco, ridden by Kevin Gallagher, entered the ring at number 30 that the first smooth round registered a clear to well-deserved applause from spectators.
Gallagher’s clear round on the Dr Noel Cawley-bred Je T’Aime Flamenco gelding, owned by Greg Broderick, threw down the gauntlet to the remainder of the field but the very next in, Kenneth Graham with George, bred by Longford’s Grainne Gormley, looked like they too were going to go clear before posting four faults on the board in 68.70.
Another polished first round clear was posted by Northern Ireland’s Harry Marshall with Savannah Barry’s Carambole gelding Flambeau, while young American rider Kerry McCahill, who trains at Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables, lost no time as next in to post another clear on her new mount, the Luidam gelding GRC Acapella.
Lying third in the New Heights Champions Series, Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lui, owned by Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig and bred by Vincent Loftus, also posted an impressive first round clear to book their place in the jump-off.
Some big names ran into trouble on course, with Susan Fitzpatrick, Greg Broderick and Paul Beecher all opting to retire.
Of those who would feature in the final placings, second to go in round one, Peter Smyth and John Fee’s Ugano Sitte gelding des Le Debut looked a threat with just four on the board. Athlone’s Kate Derwin posted a brilliant first round with Francis Derwin’s Cruisings Micky Finn-sired AHG Whiterock Cruise Down, bred by Ann Gannon Clancy, and was unfortunate to have the planks down in a flying time of 67.39.
The young Co Westmeath rider certainly earned many favourable ringside comments and ably demonstrated the strengths that recently earned her the European Champion (U18) crown.
Also going forward on four faults from round one was Tholm Keane, lying second in the New Heights Champions Series, with James Buckley and Caroline Teltsch’s Luidam stallion BMH Big Time, bred by Paula Abbey.
Jump-off
With the top 25% coming back for round two over a different course, the 12 forward was whittled down to 11 following one withdrawal. First into the arena was Katie Conlon with Clive Cathers’ Beach Ball gelding Ping Ball, bred by Richard Smyth.
On their first time competing in the Millstreet International Grand Prix, this combination posted just four faults in their first round. Unfortunately things didn’t go to plan and they finished with 16 faults including two time faults in 54.67.
Carrying four forward, Peter Smyth and Des Le Debut went clear in a smooth round in 60.22 while also carrying four forward, Tholm Keane and BMH Big Time had two down in 53.33 second time around. Next in was Graham and George, also carrying four, and they went clear in 54.33 to move into the lead.
Things did not go to plan for Robert Harrison and David Harrison’s Heartbeat mare Landlystes Rubina, bred by Peter Hoeck, carrying four forward from an encouraging first round, ended on a final tally of 16 in 55.60.
Kate Derwin and AHG Whiterock Cruise Down had an unfortunate pole down in a fast time of 50.38 to end on a tally of eight in sixth place. Raphael Lee and Jackie Lee’s Cassino mare Kashino, carrying four from round one, finished on a final tally of 12 in 55.76.
The yellow upright caught Kevin Gallagher and Ballypatrick Flamenco for four faults in 57.18 seconds but that was good enough to secure second place for the pair. Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lui had an unfortunate eight in 55.14. Harry Marshall and Flambeau dropped a pole to end on four in 57.22 and had to settle for third place.
Last into the arena after a delay for an emergency reshoeing, Kerry McCahill had an unfortunate pole down in 58.17 to slot into fourth place to conclude the competition and seal the win for Graham and George.
Jump-off results
1. William Lapsey’s George (Kenneth Graham) 4/ 54.33
2. Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Flamenco (Kevin Gallagher) 4/57.18
3. Savannah Barry’s Flambeau (Harry Marshall) 4/57.22
4. Rory Costigan’s Grc Acapella (Kerry McCahill) 4/58.17
5. John Fee’s des Le Debut (Peter Smyth) 4/60.22
6. Francis Derwin’s Ahg Whiterock Cruise Down (Kate Derwin) 8/50.38