STEPHEN Gibbons (16) tightened his grip on the leaderboard of the 1.35m Connaught Grand Prix League taking the win this time at Headford. Seven combinations made it through to the jump-off over a course built by Paul Duffy.

First in, Damien Griffin and the seven-year-old Kinmar Candy Hero had a fence down and had to settle for eventual seventh. Shane Goggins on Boleybawn Cayman set the class alight and when he turned inside the wall to the double to finish in 44.8, it looked a very difficult target to better. However, Gibbons and the ever consistent Cassius Z did all the same lines but a flyer to the last jumped them to the top of the leaderboard, clear in a time of 44.35.

Pataire Crawford settled for a steady clear to eventually secure fourth place on Jippie. The next to lay down a challenge was Lee Carey with Luxity but they came up just short in 44.87 to take the runner-up spot. Mark Duffy opted for the outside line to the double clear in 51.18 for eventual fifth. Last to go Shane Goggins with the eight-year-old GSS Victor posted a steady clear in 62.59 and eventual sixth.

Win for Carey

In the Duffy Sport Horses 1.25m class, victory went to Nadine Carey and Sacre Bleu. Aoife McCabe finished in second place on Red Bull Quality Z with the third podium position taken up by Shane Goggins and Lady Town Emily.

Young rider Grace O’Connor and Deedee won a very competitive 1.15m league with Headford’s Clodagh Lee and Erne Cruising Breeze taking second in a time of 40.03 with the in-form Nadine Carey taking third.

In the Beyond Beauty class, Cora picked up the rug, winning ahead of James Cunningham who jumped the only other double clear in the class while third went to the fastest four-faulter Jacinta Walsh.

The next leg of the Connaught League will be held at Corrandula in two weeks’ time.