LAST Saturday’s Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix came to an exciting conclusion in Barnadown when defending champion Liam O’Meara reclaimed his crown for the second successive year with the ever reliable Mr Coolcaum. The duo dominated the series with five wins and 14 places over the course of the league.

O’Meara said: “It’s great to win this league for the second year. Luckily enough I have three horses at this level and I have some up and coming stars, who will hopefully contest this league next year. Of course, to go to the all the shows, it takes team effort and I would like to thank all those that play a part. I would like to thank the SJI for running the league and to Barnadown for hosting the final at a great event. I was also delighted to feature in the young horse classes as the standard is so high and to be in the placings is the indicator of the talent of your horse. The plan is to take in a few of the Autumn Grand Prix leagues, then Cavan and hopefully travel on the international circuit.”

Bred by Kevin Farragher, Mr Coolcaum (ISH) is 14-year-old gelding by Coolcaum Hill out of the Indian Ruler mare Ranch Lady. Produced by O’Meara, the gelding has had a consistent record at Grand Prix level over the last three years.

Not content with winning the league, the Co Tipperary rider also took the runner-up spot with Curraighgraigue Jack Take Flight. Bred by Baden Powell, Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight is a 10-year-old by Jacomar out of the Errigal Flight-sired mare Curraghraigue Errigal.

Taking third place in the league were Darryl Walker and Kiss N Fly. Owned and bred by Laura Durkin, the nine-year-old gelding is by Guidam and out of Coolamber.

CURRAN SEALS THE WIN

It was Capt Geoff Curran and Drumiller Lough who lodged the winning round and took home the lion’s share of the €4,000 in the Ballypatrick Stables and O’Reilly Hyland Real Estate-sponsored SJI National Grand Prix.

Curran said: “I’m delighted with the result today as there was a very high standard in the class. Everything came up well for me and the horse did everything that I asked. I had a bit of a slip at the blue oxer and lost a bit of time there. Other than that, the horse jumped well on this great surface. John Doyle built a fair course for the high standard that was in the class. It was technical and big, but it needed to be, due to the big entries.”

Bred by Paul Dillon from Co Down, the 15-year-old gelding Drumiller Lough is by Heartbreaker out of Pearl River.

First to take to the course were Darryl Walker and Calvia Charca and this pair didn’t disappoint, delivering the first clear. They were then joined by 10 other combinations in the timed round. Walker may have delivered the first clear in the opening round, but he proved out of luck as first to go against the clock, he incurred four faults in 48.79 and finished down the line in eighth place. The first double clear was delivered by third in Greg Broderick and Dabelle in 44.92, which saw him take the lead and eventual sixth.

The next combination of Kayleigh Soden and Ard Leaderman also maintained a clean sheet in a slower time of 47.94, for eventual seventh. The lead changed when the next combination of Adrienne Dixon and Killossery Kaiden took less than half a second off Broderick’s time. Despite a playful buck on the approach before the third, Dixon managed to keep all in place and negotiated a series of good turns to see her set a new target of 42.81.

However next up, Geoff Curran and Drumiller Lough delivered the winning clear in 41.45. Curran made up time from one to two and matched with a great turn to the double, saw him claim the win.

Philip McGuane and Winslow Highs followed a similar path to Curran, however despite a series of good turns, a clear in 44.07 proved good enough for eventual fifth.

Ger O’Neill set off strong with the stallion Dondoctro Ryal K and made up time early in the course, but a longer route to the double saw him deliver a clear in 43.18 for eventual fourth. Owned by Cynthia Murphy, Dondoctro Ryal K is a 10-year-old stallion by Indoctro out of the Ahorn sired dam, Toverfee

Last to go, Mikey Pender and HHS Burnchurch followed the leader’s path, despite a series of tight turns, they were just fast enough to stop the clock in 41.75 for second and demote Dixon to third.

Along with second place, Pender finished up as the top placed young rider.