FRANCIS Derwin got the perfect send off before heading to mainland Europe to compete this week when he rode Killerisk Can Ya to the win in the 1.40m Gain/Alltech National Grand Prix at Cavan Equestrian Centre last Sunday.

This comes just two weeks after the pair won the equivalent class in Galway on the May bank holiday Monday. The pair now lead the league on 25 points.

Speaking after the class, the Athlone Junior rider said; “I’m delighted to win the Grand Prix in Cavan with Killerisk Can Ya. He’s been going really well coming up to this. He won the Grand Prix in Galway and was placed in Portmore. We had him at the internationals in Balmoral last week and he jumped two very good rounds.

“I was third last to go in the jump-off so I didn’t get to see anyone go. My Dad told me it was fast, and I knew that the horse was fast enough so I thought I could be quick enough. He jumped the first two fences very well so I knew I could be a bit quick and keep coming forward and get the first stride or so off the corners. He jumped out of the double very good and I got across to the next fence well.

“He jumped the second last, the Karlswood fence, very well and was quick back to the last, and I sat him up just a few strides before it just to make sure he cleared it and I hoped it was fast enough.

“The horse is going very well in the league but I’m not sure when I will get to compete in another round as I’m going to Holland tomorrow (Monday) to ride link up with Darragh Kenny, we will then head to Germany for the CSI4* and CSI2* in Gross Viegeln.”

Competitive action

Some 54 combinations lined out for the 1.40m Stuart Clarke-designed track which offered a prize fund of €4,000.

Twelve left all the fences intact in round one to progress to the decider. Of these just six managed to produce a second clear round. Four had a single fence down while one incurred eight faults and the final combination retired.

Derwin guided the 10-year-old gelding Killerisk Can Ya (Can Ya Makan x Mermus R) to the win in a time of 40.63, almost three seconds faster than runner-up Jonathan Smyth riding Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig’s Mulvin Lights Out (Kroongraaf x Diamond Serpent) in 43.54.

The German-bred Chardonnay and her rider Shannon Robinson took third place in 45.76, while young rider Harry Wood and a new mount for him, Victoria Wood’s Salvador, were fourth in 47.21.

Annie Courtney Cadam, riding her mother Linda’s LCC Empty Pockets (Indoctro x Cruising) slotted into fifth. Joyce Veld with Miley Dunning’s Corraghoe Bounce (Lux Z x Cruising), who were competing in their first Grand Prix together, completed the top six.

The sixth round of the league takes place tomorrow (Sunday) at Kernan’s Equestrian.