MARYVILLE Stables proved to be a happy hunting ground for Tipperary riders as Cashel native Seamus Hayes, riding Kavalli Di Magico, took the honours in the final round of the Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix League and Toomevara’s Liam O’Meara was crowned Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix champion for 2017 and leading horse owner.

In typical O’Meara fashion, although he had the league well in hand, he was looking for one final win in the series, but on this occasion, he had to contend with fifth place.

O’Meara set out strong and established his lead in the series early in the season when claiming the third, fourth, fifth and sixth round. These early wins and a series of other good results meant he was almost unbeatable at the midway point. The Tipperary rider ended the league on a total of 92 points, double the points of his closest rival, Francis Connors.

Taking third place in the overall league was Tholm Keane on 34 points.

In total, O’Meara had clocked up seven wins, two runner-up places and two minor placings. Mr Coolcaum accounted for four of those wins and finished as leading horses. His second horse, Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight (Jacomar x Curraghraigue Errigal), was responsible for three of the wins.

Liam O’Meara said: “It has been a great season for me and all the horses jumped very well. I got a good start to the league and it all went my way. It is really a family affair and I would like to thank all my family for their help and support, in particular my wife Helen and my dad Martin. It’s a victory for all of us and all had a role to play.

“It’s a long season between producing the young horses and jumping at Grand Prix level. I have a nice team of horses and I am looking forward to a few more wins before the end of the season.”

It was a good turnout for the final round of the series, with 39 going to post and, of those, 16 took on the James Tarrant-designed course in the €5,000 feature class.

Double-handed in the jump-off, O’Meara got his first look at that course with Russel Style, but four faults at the first oxer ruled this pairing out of contention.

DOUBLE CLEAR

The first double clear was delivered by ninth to go Alan O’Regan, riding Freedam. O’Regan wasted no time and a series of tight lines saw him take the lead when he crossed the line in 46.36 seconds. Despite a great effort, his lead was short-lived as next to go, Louis Delplace and Lowhill Showdown lowered the target to 44 seconds.

Just five-horses later, Seamus Hayes and Kavalli Di Magico took to the course with a win in mind. Hayes set off in a calculated pace with the big-striding stallion and made up time from the start, but it was in the turnback to the double and then to the penultimate vertical that saw him clock the winning clear time of 41.54.

Owned by the Hayes family and bred by Daniel, David and Davinia Smet, Kavalli Di Magico is a Belgian warmblood seven-year-old stallion by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of the Flamenco de Semilly-sired Wamenco.

Speaking after the win, Hayes said: “I was delighted with how the horse jumped today. I bought him as a five-year-old from Belgium and I have produced him slowly. We bought him a video that was taken of him. We knew the owners very well and we have bought quite a few from them and really like their stock.

“I bought him because I always liked the sire Emerald Van’t Ruytershof. I felt that he had great natural ability and I always said if some of his progeny came my way I would purchase it. He is a very easy going horse and just switches on in the ring. For me, he is the same character as the sire. My aim was to qualify him for Dublin this year and he did that.

“He has been very consistent and jumped clear every day in Dublin. I also took him to Valencia and he was very good taking two wins in the young horse classes. Today was the first time that I really pushed him against the clock and he answered all the questions. Hopefully we will get a few international shows in with him.

“I would like to thank my sponsors Precision Joint Solution International and the Equine Warehouse for all their support.”

With Hayes taking victory, Louis Delplace and Lowhill Showdown’s round saw them finish second. Bred by Shane Walsh and owned by Martin Walsh, Lowhill Showdown (ISH) is an eight-year-old gelding by Carrick Diamond Lad out of the Touchdown-sired mare Lowhill Cruisedown.

O’Regan and Freedam also moved down the rankings to take third place. Bred by Ronan Tynan and now owned by Frances O’Regan, Freedam is an eight-year-old gelding by Guidam out of the Furisto sire mare, Warrenstown Betty. Tynan has registered six offspring from this mare and on three occasions has crossed the mare with his own stallion Warrenstown You 2 which is back on the circuit with Tholm Keane this year.

Freedam’s half sister by Warrenstown You Two is currently competing on the eventing circles with James O’Haire at CCI3*. Only recently the pairing finished seventh in Millstreet international.

Third last to go, with Erasmus vd Heffinck, Louis Gates Hardiman opted for the longer route back to the double and this careful approach paid off as he lodged the last double clear in 55.34 for eventual fourth.

A former mount of Tim Stockdale, this 13-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding is by Cartier vd Heffinck out of Anka van’t Lozerhof. Last year, under Stockdale’s command, he clocked up a series of placings at five-star level at Gijon, Hickstead and Falsterbo and Sopot. Louis Gates Hardiman took over the ride at the end of the season last year, competing at Cavan in November.

All eyes were on the penultimate pairing of Tholm Keane and the James Buckley and Caroline Teltsch-owned BMH Big Time. With no shortage of experience, Keane knew the lines to take, but four faults at the first part of the double and crossing the line in 43.17, to finish sixth.

Last to go, with Mr Coolcaum, Liam O’Meara was looking for that last win of the series. Speed merchants against the clock, O’Meara negotiated a series of tight lines but the tight turn back to the penultimate vertical cost him dearly as it fell to the floor. A fast time of 39.89 saw him take fifth place.

WIN FOR CONNORS

Earlier in the day, victory in the 1.30m class when to Laura Connors and Justjump, clear in 26.38.

Waterford rider Gemma Phelan and Active Cruise also delivered a clear in 28.19 for second, ahead of Timmy Doyle and JS Bucks, clear in 28.37. Ronnie Lee Jones and Realt Na Carraig were fractions behind in 28.41 for fourth. Filling fifth were Tim MacDonagh and Hollypark Galloway, clear in 28.70, ahead of Corinne Hyde and Trendy, clear in 29.01.