THOMAS O’Brien landed his second Grand Prix title in as many weeks when he took the honours in the Millstreet International Welcome Tour Grand Prix last Sunday. The Athenry-based rider had travelled to the Green Glens Arena on the back of a successful Spring Tour Grand Prix at Maryville Stables where he claimed victory with his 10-year-old mare Miss Darco.

With a string of nearly 20 horses on site for the week, O’Brien didn’t have much time to spend on the ground; amassing over 60 competitive jumping rounds across the five-day show and securing a top-five placing on 25% of those occasions.

A win with Miss Darco in the opening Grand Prix qualifier on Friday saw several put their money on O’Brien in Sunday’s Welcome Tour finale and the combination found themselves drawn last but one of the 34 starters in what ultimately proved to be a thrilling competition.

Course designers James Tarrant and Gueorgui Gueorguiev had been on duty in the International Arena for the week and assembled a traditional Millstreet course that tested the very best.

Fourth into the ring, Sean Monaghan was the first to secure a ticket into the deciding round when he delivered a faultless performance with Linda Courtney’s Indoctro gelding Empty Pockets.

The nine-year-old gelding won the Four Year Old Final at Millstreet in 2014; just days after Monaghan had helped the Irish Pony team claim silver at the European Championships at the same venue. Next in, Daniel McAlinden produced a second clear in quick succession with Leanorth Soda Pop; despite coming close to the 78-second time allowed.

Thomas O’Brien was one of nine riders that were double-handed in the opening round; an unlucky rail down at the final part of the combination kept him out of contention with his first ride, Rockwood Pablo. Richard Kerins, who travelled to Millstreet from Co Sligo, was the next rider to qualify for the deciding round – Frank Kelly’s nine-year-old Hermes de Reve mare Achonry Carie left all the fences standing.

Another regular visitor to Millstreet, Tim MacDonagh (Mr Boom Boom) was the next to find himself in contention in the deciding round, quickly followed by Paul Kennedy (Star La Tuiliere), Robert Harrison (Landlystes Rubina), and John Floody (Donevan Erkindale).

With their second rides, Cian Harrison (Tabby) and Jessica Burke (Greenvale Draco) also found themselves with a chance of Grand Prix victory before O’Brien returned and earned his jump-off ticket with Miss Darco.

HIGH STANDARD

The deciding round took place over a new course; with riders returning to the arena in reverse order of standing. Pathfinder Daniel McAlinden (Leanorth Soda Pop) lowered three fences but fellow Galway native Jessica Burke set the standard with her eight-year-old Greenvale Draco when stopping the clock at 46.52 seconds.

Two rounds later. the lead transferred to John Floody (Donevan Erkindale) after he broke the beam in 46.31 seconds. Clear rounds followed from Sean Monaghan and Robert Harrison but Floody’s position remained unchallenged until Thomas O’Brien entered the arena and delivered one of the rounds of the week, shaving seven hundredths of a second off the target time (46.23 seconds).

Having been the quickest in the first round, all eyes were on Cian Harrison (Tabby) but a time of 47.59 seconds saw them settle for fourth place in the final rankings and secured O’Brien the first FEI Grand Prix victory of his career.

“I’d seen a few of the early ones go in the second round,” said O’Brien after the class.

“I knew the class would be won or lost on the turn back from the Liverpool to the double and luckily I judged it right!

“I’ve been competing in Millstreet since I was 10 and have won a lot of classes over the years but to add this CSI1* Grand Prix to the list and have my parents here to watch was very special.”

Following his victory, O’Brien will now head to Mullingar International Horse Show in June leading the Horse Sport Ireland €10,000 Jumping Challenge.