THE Brennan family dominated the Gain/Alltech National Grand Prix at Wexford Equestrian last Sunday, claiming three of the top six places. Leading the victory lap and taking home the lion’s share of the Mary Barry’s Seafood Restaurant and Harmony Solar €4,000 class was junior rider James Brennan.

Riding MHS Jersey Girl and fourth to go in the jump-off, Brennan took a series of tight lines and delivered the winning clear round in a time of 42.37. Owned and bred by James’ mother Sinead Brennan, MHS Jersey Girl is a 12-year-old mare by Cardento out of the Quidam Junior I-sired MHS Prime Time. This combination has been in great form of late, taking fourth in the opening round of the SJI Premier Series in Barnadown.

Speaking after the win, James’ father Tom said: “We are delighted with the win today and with James’ brother Jack who put in a great round to finish sixth. MHS Jersey Girl can be a tricky mare, but when she is in form, nothing will beat her. She has always been a mare that I thought a lot of and today she proved again that she can deliver the results.

“Overall, it has been a great week for the Brennan family and our extended family. We had great results in this Grand Prix and abroad, Marion (Hughes) had great results in Rome, and then Seamus Hughes Kennedy also delivered results in Sentower. In a few weeks, James, Timmy and Eoin will form part of the junior team at Hagen, so hopefully we can deliver the results there too.”

Regarding the venue, he added: “Wexford did a great job over the weekend and the surface was just perfect and jumped really well. With the sun shining, it was like being at a show in Spain”.

Competitive

A total of 29 combinations lined out to contest this round and from those, 12 booked their place in the jump-off and five double clears were delivered.

Nicholas Connors and the eight-year-old Fornett D’Emeraude were just over a second behind, clocking 43.40 to take the runner-up spot. Owned by Ann Connors, the eight-year-old gelding is by Cornet Obolensky and is out of the L’Arc de Triomphe-sired Tapass.

Junior rider Timmy Brennan and Diadema Della Caccia put in a gallant attempt to stop the clock in a time of 44.48 for third place. Bred by Della Caccia and owned by Tim Brennan, the eight-year-old mare is by Diamant De Semilly and is out of Cardentina Della Caccia. There is plenty of experience between this combination having formed part of the 1.40m CSIOJ Nations Cup in Gorla Minore in Italy in April. Following a strong performance in the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour, Timmy was also crowned leading young rider of the series.

Olympic event rider Camilla Speirs followed closely behind with her own Ogue BT Special, delivering a clear in 44.86 for fourth place. This nine-year-old gelding is by I’m Special De Muze out of Ogue Carel Alice (Ars Vivendi), bred by Vincent Murphy.

Jamie Garland and Zedlepplin were last of the double clears in a time of 49.46 for fifth place. Owned by her father Robert, the 14-year-old home-bred gelding is by Luidam out of the Cavalier Royale mare Tillula. This is the second good result for this combination in the series, having also claimed third in the round at Kernan’s Equestrian.

James’ brother Jack (Brennan) proved that the time was beatable as he clocked 42.02 aboard his Galway winner, MHS High Hopes (Quidam Junior I x Cavalier Royale), but with one pole on the ground, they had to settle for sixth place on this occasion.

Timmy’s brother Eoin (Brennan) was just out of the top six with Limestone Briarhill Lui (Kings Cornet x Luidam), finishing on four faults with Limestone Briarhill Lui, in a time of 43.02 for seventh place.