IT was a busy weekend for senior riders with a double bill of The Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix taking place last weekend.

On Sunday Charleville Agriculture show hosted a round of the national series and 23 went to post. Claiming victory and their first Grand Prix win of the season were Alan O’Regan and Freedam, when clear in 38.10.

Owned by his mother Frances, Freedam is a 10-year-old gelding by Guidam and out the Furisto-sired gelding Warrenstown Betty.

“I am delighted with the win as I bought the horse as a foal and produced him. I am especially pleased with the result as I don’t showjump full time,” O’Regan, who works as a pharmacist, told The Irish Field afterwards.

Alan O'Regan \ Sonya Dempsey

Sven Hadley was fractions behind with Raw Interior’s Jessy Van De Heide in a time of 38.35 for second place. On Saturday, Hadley had taken the honours in the 1.20m with Zena’s Flight.

Liam O’Meara may have got off to a later than usual start in the race to defend his league title, but he is making up for lost time and he partnered his Galway winner Oldtown KC, who is owned by Martin Coffey, into third in a time of 38.45 seconds. O’ Meara currently tops the leaderboard on 30 points.

Winner of the 1.50m New Heights Champions Series in Galway, Francis Connors and Hugh Fitzpatrick’s Erne Ladygoldilocks were back in the ribbons when they were fractions behind in a time of 38.75 for eventual fourth.

Fifth place belonged to Madeline Roberts Allen on her own Daroento VDL when they kept all the poles in place in a time of 40.33. Paddy O’ Donnell took the next two slots in the line-up. Riding Vivienne Quigley’s The Best of Quality, O’Donnell veered off track which meant he had to settle for sixth place. Fastest of the four fault rounds in the first round with Minority Report, he also took seventh place.

Paddy O’ Donnell didn’t go home too disappointed as earlier in the day he took first and second in the 1.30m. He delivered his best result aboard Angela Lynch’s Seefin Surprise, clear in 31.39 to win.

A clear aboard Vivienne Quigley’s The Best of Dancer in 32.65 saw him take the runner-up spot. Slotting into third was Mark Duffy with Darco’s Scarlet Lady, clear in 34.27, ahead of Francis Connors and Erne Mouantain Dew, clear in 36.28. Accounting for fifth place were Timmy Doyle and JS Bucks, clear in 36.87.

Runner-up to Sven Hadley in the 1.20m on Saturday, 16-year-old Robyn Moran upped the ante to win the 1.35m Munster Connolly’s Red Mills regional Grand Prix. Riding James McMahon’s Coolminga Inspector Royal, she delivered the winning round in 39.94 seconds. Taking the runner-up spot were Francis Connors and Capitol Cruis, clear in 42.47, ahead of Liam O’ Meara and Kenny’s Flight who recorded a clear in 44.79. Accounting for fourth place was Madeline Roberts Allen and Daroento VDL, clear in 45.23.

Sven Hadley accounted for the next two placings. Riding Ganorad, four faults in a time of 39.06 saw him take fifth, just ahead of his second mount Sumas Taloubet (0/4 48.13).