FRANCIS Derwin Jnr had an exciting and successful few days last week, producing some superb rounds both here at home, as well as at the Future Champions Show in Hagen, Germany with his impressive string of horses.

Speaking after he claimed both first and second place in the 1.40m Alltech/Gain National Grand Prix at the Cork Summer Show last Sunday, the Athlone Junior rider said: “I was in the lead with my other horse Killerisk Can Ya when I came in on Deep Pockets but there was another fast combination after me so I didn’t take any chances. It was an advantage to have two horses in the jump-off, especially my faster one in second.

“I’ve had a busy week, I came back from the RDS qualifier in Mullingar on Wednesday and then had to fly back out to Germany on Wednesday evening for the junior Nations Cup in Hagen and then come back here this morning for this class.

“I’m flying out again this evening; the plan is to bring some of the horses back to Holland with me and see how that goes.

“This has been a great show. The courses and the arena have been lovely and I want to thank the sponsors, Alltech and Gain, for their support.”

Entries

With €4,000 on offer, a slightly disappointing startlist of just 17 combinations lined-out for the Tony Hurley-designed track.

Of the 17 half-a-dozen left all the fences intact to progress to the jump-off against the clock.

Edward Doyle and his home-bred nine-year-old Quick Bill (Flex A Bill - Quick Star) were the pathfinders and they set the pace with a clear round in a time of 49.16.

Francis Connors was second to have a go aboard his own seven-year-old Carrigshawn Vendi Royal (Dondoctro Royal K – Ars Vivendi). They too produced a clear round but in a slower 53.20 which would see them finish in eventual sixth place.

Next was Derwin aboard his first mount Killerisk Can Ya (Can Ya Makan – Mermus R). They took a convincing lead when crossing the finish fault-free in 40.52.

Francis Connors and his second mount Highfort Stud’s seven-year-old Much Loved (Luidam – Larissa) were fourth in and they too kept a clean sheet in 49.76 for fifth.

The penultimate pair in was Derwin and his Uncle Jim’s ever-consistent gelding Deep Pockets (O.B.O.S Quality 004 - Cruising). The duo were the only pair to produce a sub-40 second round in 39.40 which promoted them into first place.

Last to go was the winner in Ballivor just seven days earlier, Seamus Hayes riding Clarton Clazou Z (Clarissimo Z - Clinton). A second clear in 42.59 was enough to slot them into third place.

The next and 15th round of the league takes place at Charleville tomorrow.