Galway-born Catriona Fallon and the Nightfield Equestrian-owned Nivitas Charge K captured a very competitive third round of the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix league at the picturesque Ballinamona Equestrian Centre near Waterford City recently.

A nine-year-old son of Luidam, Nivitas Charge K has been a consistently solid performer at 1.35m level and finished third in the HSI/Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour at Ballinamona earlier this year.

Twelve of the 37 starters survived the first round of Noel Phelan’s course, which included a selection of new fences, sponsored by the Munster Grand Prix league.

Third to go against the clock, Cork’s Brian Morrison, was the early leader with Wilton VDL, a clear in 39.21 seconds would eventually be good enough for seventh place.

Reigning Munster Grand Prix league champion Francis Connors shaved almost five seconds off the target time, to take the lead with Hilda Anthony’s Uskerty Diamond Lady. The 10-year-old daughter of Carrick Diamond Lady was in superb form, posting a clear in 34.26.

Mullingar International Grand Prix winner Joan Green was next to go clear with Clarequest Hill Cruise, their time of 36.83 seconds enough for fifth spot at the finish.

Swiss rider Julie Jucker, who is based with Miguel Bravo and Marion Hughes at Hughes Horse Stud, then posted a brilliant clear (35.26) with her own Nisis de la Cense to take fourth place.

Catriona Fallon and Ninitas Charge K showed their intention with a super tight turn back to the third fence of the jump-off, before galloping to the treble combination where Nivitas Charge K was as careful as a cat. A long gallop to the second last oxer followed before Fallon cleared the last and recorded the fastest time of the day, 34 seconds flat.

Stephen Smith was next to go clear, his time of 39.13 with his own Goodwill VB would see them finish in fifth, while second last to jump, Peter Moloney from Coligan, Dungarvan, was in excellent form with Ribanbelle Tame, going clear in 35.19 second to grab third place.

Last to jump was former Hickstead Derby winner Paul Beecher from Tallow and he opted for a steady clear (40.30) with the eight-year-old Captain Kelly to finish in eighth place and leave Catriona Fallon as a deserving winner and Francis Connors as runner-up.

This latest result sees Peter Moloney, who finished third overall in the series in 2013, move to the top of the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix league table on 14 points with Francis Connors in second on 12, ahead of a group of three riders (Seamus Hayes, Gerard Clarke and Catriona Fallon) on 10 points apiece.