FRANCIS Connors and Capitol Cruis moved a step closer to being crowned the 2016 Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour champions with victory in the penultimate round of the series at Iverk Show in Co Kilkenny.

Ireland’s oldest agricultural show, Iverk saw the Waterford rider add to his points tally in convincing fashion, crossing the line clear in 39.94 seconds with the nine-year-old daughter of VDL Douglas, who is owned by Ian Smyth.

Connors also filled second place in the Nissan-sponsored competition with Theoreme Du Desir, in what was one of six double clear rounds from the nine combinations who made it into the jump-off.

Another Waterford rider, Tholm Keane, slotted into third place with Amanda Kirwan’s Highly Efficient, while Deirdre Doyle finished fourth with BLM Diamond Delux. Francis Connors also filled fifth place with Centolina RB, while Thom Keane took another slice of the prize fund when finishing sixth with Vivian Lee. Keane actually produced the fastest time of the jump-off with Future Storm, but a fence down left them in seventh place.