REIGNING champion Francis Connors dominated the opening round of the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League on home soil at Ballylawn in Co Waterford on bank holiday Monday, filling the top two places.
Connors, who has won the series for the last three years, picked up where he left off in 2015, collecting the winner’s prize at Ballylawn with the 11-year-old Uskerty Diamond Lady, owned by Hilda Anthony. Last year, the combination won six rounds of the league last year and proved unbeatable yet again when posting the fastest double clear round in 41.83 seconds from 30 starters with 10 through to the jump-off.
Connors also took runner-up spot aboard the Ian Smyth-owned Capitol Cruis, just over a tenth of a second off the winning time. Dungarvan young rider Nicolas Connors slotted into third after a brilliant round with the Ann Connors-owned Lantino 31, while Tallow’s Paul Beecher finished fourth with Danqu.
Michael Pender and Z7 Cordanos V finished fifth while Tadhg Beecher completed the top six aboard Loughnatousa Sheldon after a 10-horse jump-off.
The second round of the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League will take place at Kingdom County Show in Tralee tomorrow (Sunday, May 8th).
FBD 1.20M SPEED SERIES
The first leg of the FBD 1.20M Speed Series also got underway at Ballylawn with 34 competitors presented before the judges for the first leg of the series over the Tom Holden-designed track, which saw 24 make it through to the second phase against the clock.
It was local man Paddy O’Donnell who claimed victory aboard Thomas Power’s nine-year-old mare Harristown Gold in a time 25.73 seconds.
Coming in to take the runner-up slot was Francis Connors riding Hugh Fitzpatrick’s Erne Luxetta, crossing the line in 28.46. Taking the third spot was Tallow man Paul Beecher riding Tim Beecher’s Loughnatousa Zidane in 28.85 while the fourth spot was claimed by local man Neilus O’Donoghue riding his own Pottery’s Field. Tadgh Beecher riding Loughnatousa Miguel claimed fifth with young rider Patrick Joyce completing the line-up.
Action moves to Tralee tomorrow before coming back to Co Waterofr the Aglish Charity Gymkhana on May 15th.
Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League
Ballylawn, Co Waterford
1. Francis Connors Uskerty Diamond Lady 0/0 41.83
2. Francis Connors Capitol Cruis 0/0 41.96
3. Nicolas Connors Lantino 31 0/0 42.45
4. Paul Beecher Danqu 0/0 43.44
5. Michael Pender Z7 Cordanos V 0/0 44.27
6. Tadhg Beecher Loughnatousa Sheldon 0/0 48.99