JUNIOR rider Francis Derwin Jnr added to his Gain Alltech Grand Prix leaderboard points last Saturday, when he rode to victory at Banner Equestrian in Co Clare. Riding Parvati AEG, he lodged a clear round against the clock in a time of 29.12 and took home the winner’s share of the €4,000 on offer in the Bakels Renshaw, w.s.gewerbebau GmbH and Equestrian Surfaces Ireland-sponsored class.
Owned by his father, Francis Derwin, Parvati AEG is a Belgian Warmblood by Arezzo VDL out of the Darco-sired dam Sabrieene. This combination opened the series with a win at Duffy’s Equestrian Centre last month.
Speaking afterwards, Derwin Jnr said: “We’ve had her since she was five, so I know her well. I won in Duffy’s a month ago, so we are going well in the league and will continue to follow it.
“I was first to go in the jump-off and I knew there was a few quick ones coming after me, so I wanted to put a bit of pressure on. It is my first time here at the Banner Equestrian Centre; it’s a great arena and great course building.”
Co Clare’s Conor McMahon and the Garranemore Equestrian-owned Easyjet kept the poles in place, albeit in a slower time of 32.52 for second place. This nine-year-old stallion, who was bred by John James Hassett, is by Emerald out of Lux Forever. The stallion was previously campaigned by Rhys Williams at home and abroad up to 1.45m level. McMahon took over the reins in May.
Galway’s Aoife McCabe opted for the longer routes with her own Heritage Enigma and it paid off, as they came home with nothing to add in a time of 34.01 for third place. Bred by Anne-Marie O’Gorman, the nine-year-old mare is by Eldorado van de Zeshoek and is out of the Canturo-sired Claudi.
Following his win in the 1.45m Plusvital Premier Series at Mullingar CSI2* the week previous, Eoin Brennan was back in the line-up when he finished fastest of the four-faulters aboard Limestone Briarhill Lui in a time of 30.99 for eventual fourth. Bred by Anne Coyne and owned by Tim Brennan, the 11-year-old mare is by Kings Cornet out of the Luidam mare Briarhill Cruise. This pairing have certainly been on form, claiming third place in the 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier in Mullingar CSI2* the week before.
Gary Dooley proved out of luck when he had one down with the O’Connell Sport Horses-owned OCS Tolan (Tolan R x Touchdown) in a time of 35.16 for fifth place. The nine-year-old mare was bred by the late Harold McGahern.
Completing the top six was Liam O’Meara with his own home-bred Sir Jim Jim (Boherdale Clover x Errigal Flight). The dam, Glenaguile Flight, was campaigned by O’Meara up to 1.35m and, over the course of her career, accumulated over 300 show jumping points.
Laura O'Connell from Alltech Ireland presenting Francis Derwin with his prize after he won the Gain Alltech National Grand Prix at the Banner Equestrian Centre \ Dilger Photography
1.30m
The Grüter.swiss-sponsored 1.30m saw 41 combinations going to post, with 15 delivering double clears in the two-phase class. Leading the victory lap was Daisy McNamara and Caspetito Z, when they galloped home in a time of 29.75.
Conor McMahon added to his winnings, when he took the runner-up spot with Destony M, when they stopped the clock in a time of 32.45. Sarah Fitzgerald was just over a second behind with HHS Lou, coming home in 33.20 for third place. Maura Counihan Jnr accounted for fourth place with the Ian Smyth-owned Cruising On The Ridge, when they clocked 33.29. Fifth place belonged to Bill Maguire, who partnered Michael Keane’s Billerough Tyson to a clear in 36.48. Diarmuid Killeen took sixth place with his own Clooncalagy Legend, when they crossed the line in a time of 36.66.
Summer Series
Winner of the SJI Summer Series 1.20m Rockview Sporthorses was Andrew Ryan when he beat off the challenge of 56 combinations, delivering a clear with his own six-year-old Veras Lady in a time of 23.02.
Victory in the SJI Summer Series 1.10m, sponsored by Clondrina Stables and Enda and Shirley Corry, was claimed by Victoria McMahon aboard her own Cartown Morning Star, when she delivered a double clear in a time of 25.48.
Junior riders dominated the 1m series, as they took the first three places. Sponsored by PMD Sport Horses, 29 went to post. Taking the win was Emma Moore on Coore Minnie when clear in 36.34.