MEATH’s Cian O’Connor was crowned Leading Show Jumper of the Year, after winning the curtain-closing Grand Prix at the Horse Of The Year Show in Birmingham last Sunday.

O’Connor produced an outstanding double clear round with the 10-year-old gelding Super Sox, stopping the clock in 32.49 seconds to take the title by four-hundredths of a second ahead of British legend John Whitaker, riding Ornellaia.

Just seven of the 32 starters managed to jump clear over a testing first round course and London Olympic bronze medallist O’Connor was in unstoppable form, posting what proved the winning round with Super Sox, owned by Chansonette Farm LLC & Ronnoco Jump Ltd.

O’Connor’s win also saw him crowned leading rider of the show following a string of top placings at the British venue. The win was the second time in two years that an Irish rider has won the Grand Prix title, with Cian O’Connor’s win coming on the back of Billy Twomey’s 2015 victory with Diaghilev.

DEDICATION

Cian O’Connor said: “I was going for a walk this morning, and I thought back to my last time here two years ago, and I had to leave here after the second day because I got the very sad news that my mum had passed away.

“My mum was always the type of person who would do anything for you, and I just thought I am going to win that Grand Prix tonight, and if I do, I will dedicate it to my mum.

“There are certain shows that you want to go well at during the year, and this is one of them. I am thrilled with this win, Super Sox was outstanding and I am over the moon to get my hands on this prestigious trophy.”

Tipperary’s Shane Breen also made it into the jump-off and finished in sixth place overall with Market Irminka. Earlier Breen led an Irish one-two in the Speed Horse Of The Year class. He partnered the Bina Ford and Breen Equestrian Ltd-owned, Acoustik Solo Du Baloubet, to the quickest clear round in 44.69 seconds. Cork’s Billy Twomey grabbed the runner-up spot with Joe Flynn’s traditional Irish Sport Horse Ardcolum Duke, stopping the clock in 45.09.

Twomey and Ardcolum Duke had earlier taken the winner’s prize in Saturday’s accumulator class.

Shane Breen was also among the prizes in the 1.45 two phase class on Sunday afternoon, finishing third with Tango D’Ecry behind British winner Louise Saywell and Feigtling.