JOHN Floody was well rewarded when he concentrated his efforts on the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Grand Prix at Ravensdale last Saturday.

Sponsored by GM Wall Tracking, the class offered a €2,000 prize pot and 32 starters lined out for the two round class. Floody managed to secure both first and second place, as well as taking sixth for good measure aboard his trio of ever consistent geldings.

His winning mount was Denyse Hughes’ Ballyknock Diamond (Jacomar x Touchdown). They stopped the clock at 31.62 in the second round to take the top prize. He secured the runner-up prize with Kevin and Geralyn Thompson’s Dutch-bred Donevan Erkindale, who was just half a second slower in 31.92.

Third place went to Stephen Murphy riding Brian Murphy’s Chantelle in 33.43, while fourth was Savannah Marshall and her own Flambeau in 35.02.

Young rider Rhys Williams was fifth with Cowboy Balou in 35.25, while sixth was Floody and Kathryn Magennis’ Accidental Diamond.

Another Lennon win

Sunday’s 1.40m Grand Prix was not Dermott Lennon’s only victory of the day last Sunday. In the 1.30m Speed, he rode Bronte Stables’ seven-year-old gelding Millview Cicero (Cicero Z Van Paemal x Oklund) to the win in a time of 62.50.

Young rider Alex Finney and Gerry Marron’s mare Absolutely Kingmar Z took the runner-up spot after recording a clear in 62.64. Another young rider, Kerrie Kerr riding Marblearch (Lougherne Cappuccino x Dancing Boy) slotted into third when they posted a time of 63.40.

Fourth was Gary Quinn aboard Patrick Kirwin’s gelding Sligo Balou (Balou de Rouet x Conley) in a time of 63.40. Fifth and sixth places went to Kerrie Kerr and her second mount Lucidam, followed by Edward Little and Carnlea Premier Balou.

Amateur rider Aileen McDermott was victorious in the other class with significant prize money on Sunday, the APL Equine 1.10m, where she rode her own mare Amber Balou (Baloubet du Rouet x Don Juan de la Bouverie) to victory with a jump-off time of 21.32, over four seconds ahead of her closest rival.

Young rider Melissa McKee took second when she guided the eight-year-old mare Diamond Beach Babe (Beach Ball x Coveres Diamond Boy) to a double clear in 25.31.

Another young rider, Emelie Larkin and the Larkin Bros-owned Dutch-bred gelding Gigant took third in 26.68.

John Floody, riding Brian McAuley’s eight-year-old mare Larkhill Countess (Flexible x Crosstown Dancer), was fourth in 27.48, while fifth was Kristin Kavanagh and her own gelding Sonas Luxy. Junior rider Kayla Jebb and the Dutch-bred Epinal completed the line-up in sixth place.