LIAM O’Meara is certainly making up for lost ground in the Connolly’s Red Mills, Showjumpers Club, 2017 Spring Tour as he claimed his second consecutive win of the series at Ballinamona last Sunday. Riding the nine-year-old Jacomar-sired gelding Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, the reigning champion took the win by a mere split second from his closest rival Mikey Pender.

A delighted O’Meara said: “The horse has always been very consistent and he demonstrated this again today. He is only nine and he has been a real loyal servant. He has been doing this Tour for the last three years and has always delivered. Dad bought him as a three-year-old and it’s good to have him on the truck.”

Commenting on the timed round, he added: “I didn’t get to see Mikey’s (Pender) round but I knew that he would be hard to beat. I had three in the jump-off which gave me the advantage. I had a pole down with my first two horses but we did lodge quick times, so I knew that with a bit of luck that I could put in a fast clear. Thankfully in the end things went that way. My next show will be Maryville.”

Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight is a nine-year-old by Jacomar out of an Errigal Flight-sired mare, Curraghraigue Errigal. The gelding has proved to be a consistent campaigner for O’Meara with a series of impressive results and was instrumental in O’Meara winning the Tour last year. The combination got off to a decent start when taking fourth place in the opening round at JAG Equestrian and a win in Ravensdale Lodge two weeks ago.

Keen to claim league points, O’Meara maximised his chances of a win when he secured three places in the 10-way jump-off. The pressure was on O’Meara however, as young rider Mikey Pender was also double-handed against the clock.

Going early in the jump-off, O’Meara proved out of luck as he faulted once with Lincourt Lux in a time of 30.54 which would later see them slot into eight place. He then got his second look at the track with Kennysflight, but four faults in 29.61 seconds meant a seventh place finish for this combination.

Local rider Gemma Phelan put her first points on the board when she crossed the line with nothing to add, with the eight-year-old Loughnavatta Indigo, in 28.87 seconds for eventual fourth.

Young rider Anna Carway opted for the more cautious lines with Ajaccio and it paid off as she lodged a clear in 33.01 which saw her finish just behind Phelan.

Cork rider Rory Horgan, riding J’aime Van Het Beetjen, slotted into sixth place when they proved fastest of the four-faulters in 29.09.

Fresh from a successful tour in Dubai and Wellington, Michael Pender was on form and ready to lay down the gauntlet. Going first with Quarrycrest Clover, he meant business from start. Setting off in a determined pace he first made up time in the turn back to the double this matched with an inside line to the penultimate oxer saw him set the target of clear in 28.22 seconds to put it up to the rest. Second last to go, the young Kildare rider returned with the seven-year-old Curra Clover Flight and reduced this target to 26.86, which temporarily put him in the lead put the pressure on Liam O’Meara who was next to go.

Last to go in the jump-off, all eyes were on Liam O’Meara has he took to the course with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight. O’Meara made up the time in the turn back to the double. A daring gallop to the penultimate oxer and then to the last paid off as he clocked 26.72 seconds to take the win and demote Pender to second with Curra Clover Flight and third with Quarrycrest Clover.

Following another solid performance, Vickie Anderson was named as the leading Pro Am of the leg, which means that she holds a very strong position on this leaderboard having claimed the prize in three rounds. Mikey Pender’s runner-up placing saw him take the Leading Young Rider prize of the round.