It was a bumper year on the Irish National circuit with both veteran riders and some new faces to Grand Prix level jumping claiming wins throughout what would prove to be an exciting year.
The competitive year began in earnest at JAG Equestrian Centre in February with the first leg of the 14-round HSI/Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour.
Frank Curran and Oliver Twister won the opening round. They finished almost a second ahead of runner-up Damien Griffin riding Tabby. This was the first of a trio of wins that Curran and Oliver Twister would go on to claim during the tour.
The second round was held in Cavan and here it was young rider Tim MacDonagh who came to the fore, securing the victory aboard Tick Tock Tina. Again less than a second separated the top-two finishers; Kenneth Graham and George were runners-up.
John Floody captured his first win of the year in Broadmeadows when he and HTS Blackrock were fastest in the timed decider. Another local man, Paul Carberry took second place with his own gelding Brandonview First Edition.
Floody stayed in-form the following week claiming yet another league win this time riding Ballyknock Diamond in Killossery Equestrian.
Portmore and Ballinamona both played host to a round of the league in the second weekend in March. Sven Hadley won his first Spring Grand Prix round riding Realt na Carraig in Maryville. The pair posted a jump-off time of 43.68 exactly two seconds faster than runner-up Oisin Aylward and Bendix.
Meanwhile, in the north of the country, Frank Curran and Oliver Twister were adding a second win to their league tally in Kernan’s Equestrian. They finished one second faster than Gerard Clarke and Kellswater Crimson to take the victory.
Curran and Oliver Twister completed the trio when they added a win in Barnadown where they proved best in a six-way jump-off just ahead of Patrick Hickey and Quandrina.
Mullingar Equestrian Centre hosted the 11th round of the league where Jessica Burke claimed her first Grand Prix win of the year aboard Clonguish Vivaro, finishing comfortably ahead of Sven Hadley and Sumas Taloubet.
Paddy O’Donnell began his 2018 campaign off with a win in the penultimate Spring Tour venue Warrington. Here, O’Donnell partnered Minority Report to the top-spot while Darragh Ryan slotted into second with All Gold Des Isles.
The final round was held in Coilóg Equestrian in mid April. Jessica Burke and Clonguish Vivaro collected their second league win here with Sean Monaghan and Simone in second. Despite the points and a half on offer in the final, the result had little effect on the league standings. Two wins, one second, three thirds and a fifth place gave Sven Hadley a 49-point total and saw him secure the title.
In the young rider section, Sean Monaghan proved best with a total of 21 points, while in the Pro-Am Frank Curran was the victor on 11.5.
SUMMER STARS
Kenneth Graham got his summer season off to the perfect start for the second time in as many years when, when he rode George to the top-spot in the opening round of the SJI National Grand Prix league at the Meadows in April.
They pair provided a double clear in a time of 38.41 which was enough to see off all of the large contenders in the 15-way jump-off.
The second round in Portmore saw Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lui take the top-spot. Liam O’Meara meanwhile, made the first of his many top-three appearances in the National Grand Prix line-up when taking second place with Russell Style.
Bad weather caused the cancellation of the scheduled third round in Thomastown so the next round took place in Barnadown where Darragh Ryan and Deep Pockets emerged as the victors.
Cavan Equestrian hosted round four and hot on the heels of a productive Spring Tour Jessica Burke and Clonguish Vivaro took the win here, with Liam O’Meara not far behind in second with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight.
Irish Olympian Greg Broderick won the next leg in Ballinasloe with his new mount Dabelle. The following week in round seven, O’Meara collected his first win of the summer when he and Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight dominated proceedings on the grass in Balivor.
Galway County show saw Shane Goggins and Wrangler II claim the top-spot at the mid-way stage in the league; while O’Meara was back on top in the next round in Charleville with Mr Coolcaum.
Jessica Burke and the fabulous Express Trend topped the pile in Coilóg to claim their first National Grand Prix title together and Burke’s second within a number of weeks.
It was back to O’Meara and Mr Coolcaum for the next two round wins. At either end of the country in Omagh and Cork, the pair scored the maximum points which put them comfortably into the lead.
Vincent Byrne and Mr Rockafeller place first in Bannow and Rathangan, while second place went to Captain Geoff Curran and Drummiller Lough. Victory in JAG the following weekend went to Matt Garrigan and HHS La Scala, and it was Dermott Lennon and MJM Pursuit that proved best in Tattersalls in July.
Matt Garrigan claimed another win, this time riding Contino 56, in Maryville while Jessica Burke and Clonguish Vivaro won their second combined leg in Mullingar.
O’Meara was back to winning ways in Galway when he took the round there with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight. Captain Curran and Drumiller Lough won the final round of the league at the Irish Breeders Championships but this did not affect the final series result.
The top two places went to Liam O’Meara. He took first with Mr Coolcaum on 58 points and second with Curraghgragiue Jack Take Flight on 56.
BACK-TO-BACK TITLES FOR BRODERICK
Greg Broderick defended his 2017 National Champion title when dominating the 1.50m TRM/HSI New Heights Champions Series from the off, winning rounds one and two in The Meadows and Portmore with Duco.
Nicholas Butler and Vimminka finished in second place in Portmore while Ciaran Nallon and Arkino Z occupied that spot in the Meadows.
Captain Geoff Curran took both first and second places in the third round in Ballinasloe; taking the win with the traditional Irish Sport Horse stallion Hallowberry Cruz, who the army leased from breeder Caroline Byrne this season, and the runner-up spot with Shannondale Rahona.
Halfway through the eight-round series the fourth round took place in Omagh. It was won by Alexander Butler and Eldorado, who would later go on to win the international Grand Prix in Mullingar, just ahead of Darragh Ryan and Rincoola Rua.
Lennon and Broderick dominated once again in Tattersalls taking the top two places with Gelvins Touch and BP Hybernia, respectively.
It all came together for Gemma Phelan and GRC Acapella, who had taking fourth place in Tattersalls one week earlier, when they finished in first place in Maryville. Jessica Burke and Express Trend were runners-up.
The final two rounds of the series in Mullingar and at the Irish Breeders Championships were won by Captain Geoff Curran riding the ever reliable Ringwood Glen.
This meant that the army rider finished on an overall score of 25 and in the runner-up spot, just behind series winner Greg Broderick and Duco on 30.5, who was once again crowned the National Champion for 2018.
HARRISON ON TOP
It was a nail-biting finish to the TopSpec Autumn Grand Prix league in Cavan at the beginning of December with three riders – Robert Harrisson, Philip Gaw and Paul Carberry – all in contention for the league win coming into the final.
The league consisted of 17 rounds; six were 1.40m and offered 12 points for the winner, while 11 were 1.35m and offered 10 points.
The first 1.35m round in The Meadows was won by Jonathan Smyth and Charlton Clio, while the 1.40m victory went to John Floody and HTS Blackrock. Luke Garrigan and MHS La Scala were winners of the 1.40m round in Cavan, while Jessica Burke and Norway Venture captured the 1.35m win.
The 1.35m in Wexford went to Paddy O’Donnell and Minority Report, while Jonathan Smyth and Charlton Clio took their second win in the equivalent in Kernan’s.
Paul Carberry and Brandonview First Edition collected their first Grand Prix win when they won the 1.35m in Eglinton. Liam O’Meara and Curraghgraguie Jack Take Flight slotted into second place.
The following day, O’Meara and his winning machine Jack Take Flight went one better and took the top-spot in the 1.40m, O’Meara also claimed second place with Mr Coolcaum.
Ciaran Nallon and Bally Fair Deal won the 1.35m in Cavan in October and Oliver McCarthy proved a very popular winner the following day when he won the 1.40m with Zuidam after a long break from competition.
The 1.35m in Portmore was won by Robert Harrisson and Landlystes Rubina while Jordan Coyle and Chuckles took the 1.40m round. Paul Carberry’s second win of the series came in Killossery Lodge when he and Brandonview First Edition claimed the 1.35m round there.
The league went back to Portmore for its penultimate venue and Jamie Landers and Valtor de Blagny were the 1.35m winners here.
The Cavan Equestrian Centre hosted the final 1.35m and 1.40m rounds as the league and the 2018 season came to a close.
Tholm Keane and Future Storm won the 1.35m on the Saturday of the show. With points and a half on offer, as well as the league title being decided on the final day there was plenty at stake in the final 1.40m class.
Last to go in the class Robert Harrisson and Landlystes Rubina produced the fastest fault-free performance to claim not only the class win but it would see then top the league also.