New Heights Champions Series

FRANCIS Connors and the Hugh Fitzpatrick-owned and bred Erne Ladygoldilocks were crowned the TRM/Horse Sport Ireland New Heights Champions Series winners following the final leg of the series at Barnadown, Co Wexford at the beginning of September.

Connors and the 12-year-old chesnut mare finished third in the final leg, giving them a total of 47 league points to take the title.

The pair scored a win at the Galway County round of the lucrative series and were regularly among the top places throughout the season including at Portmore, Omagh, Balmoral and Maryville. They were third at the final leg in Barnadown to secure victory.

The Ard VDL Douglas-sired Irish Sport Horse mare has been in O’Connor’s care since her five-year-old year. He was delighted to win another National Championship title. “I’m delighted because the mare has been fantastic all year and to lose it today would have been awful. She has been brilliant all through the series so she deserved this,” he said.

“I’ve been riding horses for Hugh [Fitzpatrick] for many years now and have had Goldilocks since she was five. She hasn’t actually won that many classes during her career because she wouldn’t be the fastest, but she has jumped an unbelievable amount of clear rounds,” Connors added.

Runner-up on a total of 35 points was Tholm Keane and BMH Big Time following three second place finishes earned in Galway, Omagh and Balmoral and three more placings in Ballinasloe, Tattersalls and at the Breeders Classic shows.

Tim MacDonagh finished in third place on 33 after a win in Omagh and five other placings. Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lui recorded some notable results; earning two outright wins at the rounds in Ballinasloe and Balmoral, but with just five other points to add, earned at three other venues, they finished on a score of 25 for fourth place overall.

In addition to the National Champion title being decided by the New Heights Champions Series over the 10 rounds, points are also allocated at four legs RDS individual invitations to the five-star Dublin Horse Show.

After her winning round in Tattersalls, event rider Elizabeth Power and Doonaveragh O One led the way with 21 points and got her ticket to the main arena, where she went on to win a international speed class.

Jessica Burke was the second rider from the domestic scene to get an invite to the RDS from the league.