THE winners of this year’s New Heights Champions Series and the National Grand Prix leagues left their victories in no doubt with Greg Broderick and Liam O’Meara capturing the leagues by large margins.
O’Meara was named National Grand Prix Champion when he scored 92 points over the 19-round league with his two mounts, Mr Coolcaum and Curraghgraigue Jack take Flight, while Broderick notched up 48 points over the 10-round New Heights Champions Series with Chinook II, as well as placing third with Charmeur on 29 points.
The new TRM/Horseware New Heights Champions Series was announced back in January, replacing the previous Premier Series, with a 30% increase in prize money in a joint venture between Showjumping Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland.
After two years on the international circuit and following the sale of his top horse, MHS Going Global, Broderick was determined to begin his national campaign with a win and that is what his did at Louth County.
Riding Chameur he snatched victory from Sophie Dalm (Remake Lande) who finished as runner-up.
There was a change of mount, but not of rider, for the second round win in Ballinasloe. Broderick and Chinook II took the top spot, and for good measure he then slotted into second place with Chameur.
Clem McMahon then put a halt to the Tipperary man’s run when he took first place with Aldaluck in Mullingar. McMahon’s momentum was then slowed when he had to settle for the runner-up spot aboard Hilton CMS Paparazzi after Gemma Phelan and Loughnavatta Indigo dominated the fourth round in Galway.
Vincent Byrne partnered Hannibal V Overis Z to the win in Omagh, where Broderick and Chinook II were second.
Broderick once again found himself and Chinook II in the top spot at the sixth round in Cork, but snapping at his heels once again was McMahon who was runner-up with Hilton CMS Paparazzi.
The top-two places on the score board remained the same for the seventh round in Balmoral; with Broderick on the top and McMahon runner-up, this time with Aldaluck.
The next round, on the grass of Tattersalls, saw some new blood enter the race. Last year’s Premier Series winner Captain Geoff Curran won the class with Shannondale Rahona, while Nicholas Butler and Vimminka, who already had eight points earned at the first two rounds in Louth and Ballinsloe, added another eight when they finished in second place here.
The top two riders after Tattersalls, Broderick and Vincent Byrne, went forward to the international classes at Dublin, where Broderick was in flying form, winning the leading international rider.
Butler and Vimminka scored yet another eight points at the round in the Meadows where victory went to Tholm Keane and BMH Big Time.
Captain Curran took his second series win, this time riding Dollanstown, at the final round at the Irish Breeders Championships in Wexford. Jenny Rankin and Baccarat were runners up and Broderick and Chinook II finished in third place.
This third place, along with three wins, one second place and three points earned at Tattersalls and The Meadows meant Broderick’s final score amounted to 48 points, 18 ahead of his closest rival, Nicolas Butler on 30, and he was crowned National Champion, a title he last took in 2014.
DOMINATION
Liam O’Meara began his domination of the 1.40m National Grand Prix League 2017 with a win in the third round in Thomastown. Riding the ever-consistent Mr Coolcaum this was the first of the seven wins O’Meara would amass in the 19-round league.
Liam O'Meara dominated the National Grand Prix League. Pictured winning in Barnadown with Mr Coolcaum (Photo: Louise O'Brien/ Jumpinaction.net)
The pair’s second victory came just one week later during the first week in May in Barnadown. This proved to be a very successful month for O’Meara. He collected two more wins aboard Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, the first coming in Cavan and the second in Galway.
The top spot eluded O’Meara at the next two rounds as he finished runner up to Jack Ryan (Cavalier Teaca) in Coilóg with Mr Coolcaum and then, riding Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, finished second to Francis Connors (Capitol Cruise) in Newcastle West.
He waited three weeks before snatching his next win; which came in Charleville, Co Cork in June with Mr Coolcaum, before adding one more in the same county at the Cork Summer Show in July with Curraghgrague Jack Take Flight.
In the penultimate round of the league at the Irish Breeders Championships in Barnadown, O’Meara ensured the league victory with a win with Mr Coolcaum which put him out in front by such a large margin of 46 points that he couldn’t be caught. League runner-up was Francis Connors.
Sven Hadley got his year off to a good start when he won the 2017 Connollys Red Mills Spring Tour which took place over 14 rounds running from February 12 until April 16th.
Hadley began well with a win in the first round in the JAG Equestrian, he followed this with another victory at the second round in Cavan one week later which gave him a solid 20 points on the league table.
A third place in Ravensdale at the end of February was then followed by a runner-up spot at the round in Portmore in March. A sixth place in Kernans at the end of March was closely followed by another win, this one coming in Barnadown in April. A second place finish in Mullingar was enough to give him the 67 point total he needed to secure the title.
Second place went to Shannon MacKenzie with 51 points while third went to John Floody on 44. Mikey Pender won the Spring league Leading Young Rider title, while Vickie Anderson took the Pro/Am title win.
AXED
The popular Jumping in the City series was axed for 2017, however Munster Showjumping did run the Munster Stadium Jumping in June and July where Ballypatrick Stables dominated. Darragh Ryan took victory in Limerick with Zuidam, while Zuidam once again did the business in Cork, this time under American Adrienne Dixon.
The 2015 champion John Floody returned to win the 2017 Allianz Autumn Grand Prix league. For the first time, the 14-round league was made up of nine 1.35m and five 1.40m rounds.
John Floody and Bronson de Reve won the Allianz Autumn Grand Prix league (Photo: Laurence Dunne/ jumpinaction.net)
The winner of the 1.40m rounds was awarded 12 league points, while the 1.35m winner got 10 points. Floody and Bronson de Reve won the first 1.40m round in Cavan in September. They then picked up two points in Wexford in October. But it was the double of wins at the final round in Cavan in December for which they were awarded 22 points that gave them the 36 point total they needed to secure the title.
Jonathan Smyth and Pingball finished as runners up on 34 points earned in Eglinton, Portmore and Cavan.
Smyth took third place with his other mount Charlton Clio. The pair were awarded 30 points after a 1.40m win in Eglinton, a 1.35m win in Portmore and placings in Cavan.