FOLLOWING a two-year absence, national Grand Prix show jumping returned to Ballinasloe in Co Galway, as the showgrounds played host to the latest round of the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League.

With a large contingent of local riders in action, it came as no surprise that a Connaught native took the honours, with Galway’s Thomas O’Brien coming out on top in the €4,000 Bourns Sport Horses sponsored class.

Riding Amaretto, O’Brien recorded his second win of the series, having previously taken victory with Amaretto at his own base in Galway EC.

A 10-year-old gelding by Numero Uno, Amaretto is owned by Connaught Bloodstock and has been campaigned by O’Brien for the last two years on the national and international circuit.

O’ Brien said: “The horse has been very consistent over the season so I was confident that I could put in a fast round with him. It’s always hard going early in the jump-off as you don’t know how it is going to fair out.”

He continued:“Liam O’Meara had set a good time and I knew that there were fast combinations to come, so I just had to go as fast as I could.

“The horse turns very well so I could make up time in the turn back to the last,” he said.

Course designer Paul Duffy built a fair course for the 25 starters and in the first round the water tray at fence five followed by the treble at six demanded careful riding, with 10 combinations advancing to the jump-off.

First to go against the clock, Damien Griffin recorded four faults in a time of 37.88 seconds with Tabby, which would later proved good enough for seventh place overall.

Liam O’Meara then set the early target, as he delivered the first double clear in 38.81 aboard Mr Coolcaum.

However O’Meara’s lead was short-lived, as Thomas O’Brien sliced over a second off his time with Amaretto.

He first made up time from fence one to two, before a good turn-back to the double put him right on target.

Another tight turn to the last oxer saw him set what proved an unbeatable time of 37.49, pushing O’Meara into second.

O’Brien did however have an anxious wait before being confirmed as winner. Sven Hadley took every tight line with Quanbell, but the second part of the double fell to the ground, ruling him out of contention, while Olive Clarke and Captain’s Call fell victim to the same fence.

Young rider Roisin Fagan didn’t hang about with Ikan, negotiating a series of tight turns on her way to a clear in 39.32, which saw her slot into third place.

Next in with Norway Venture, Noelle Barry also lodged a clear, albeit in a slower time of 41.21 for eventual fourth.

Opting for the more cautious approach with Galway Brigade paid off for Martin Hynes, as he finished clear in 43.92, which proved good for fifth place at the finish.

Gerard Clarke and Zanzibar’s hopes of win were dashed early, as he faulted at the very first fence but he maintained a good pace and a fast four fault round in 37.85 saw him take sixth place overall.

Last to go, only Gabriel Slattery and Magic Touch could snatch the win from O’ Brien.

However, despite the home advantage things didn’t go according to plan as he crossed the line carrying eight faults, leaving O’Brien and Amaretto as Ballinasloe Grand Prix winners.