DERMOTT LENNON proved absolutely unbeatable at Tattersalls July Show last weekend winning both the National and the New Heights Grand Prix classes at the Co Meath venue.

Both wins were very clear-cut; in last Sunday’s New Heights competition he was over three seconds faster than his closest rival, while in Saturday’s SJI National Grand Prix over a second and a half separated him and second place.

Speaking after the Grand Prix on Sunday, Lennon said: “He (Gelvins Touch) was super today, he’s been jumping very well recently and I’m delighted how he finished up today. The horse is learning how to be competitive.”

On winning both Grand Prix classes, Lennon quipped: “We try this every weekend but it doesn’t always work. I’m also delighted with how MJM Pursuit (Aldato – Limmerick) went yesterday. She is a fairly new addition to my string. She is nine years old and I’ve been riding her since April. She is very exciting. She is just moving up to Grand Prix level and we will have her in the RDS. She feels ready to move up to bigger challenges.”

Referring to the addition of the New Heights Series to the competition calendar, Lennon commented, “We struggled for a long time in this country to get classes that were 1.50m. Before this it was all 1.40m and 1.45m on a good day, we didn’t have a stepping stone to prepare horses for the bigger classes abroad.

“We need these 1.50m competitions to teach the horses to jump bigger fences. They really are a very necessary addition. My plan now is to probably do another show this weekend and after that concentrate on getting the horses feeling fresh for Dublin so we can give it our best shot.”

A total of 35 combinations started in the fifth round of the 1.50m Horse Sport Ireland/TRM Equestrian-sponsored series on Sunday afternoon at the sun drenched Co Meath venue.

It was a credit to the groundkeepers that the going was good in one of the few grass arenas in the country that still appeared green, as opposed to scorched yellow.

In round one, seven combinations were clear. Six had just one fence down for four faults. Nine riders collected eight faults on course, while five more notched up more than eight faults.

Seven riders retired. One, Tim MacDonagh, was eliminated after a fall from Hollypark Galloway.

Twenty five percent of them, the six clears and the fastest three four faulters, went forward to the timed decider.

First to go was Peter Smyth and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (Limmerick – Lux Z). They faulted at the third fence to leave them on a total score of eight in a time of 55.01.

The fastest four-faulter Clem McMahon decided not to go with Hilton Pacato, so second into the ring was last year’s winner Captain Geoff Curran and Dollanstown.

Tattersalls has always been a happy hunting ground for Curran. He won both the National and New Heights Grand Prix in 2017, and won the National Grand Prix in 2016.

But the dream of a hat-trick was snatched away from the army rider early on with the fall of the first fence. He finished on a total of four faults in 55.00 for eventual sixth place.

Next in, Jessica Burke and Express Trend (Condios – Future Trend) had the fifth fence down to finish on four faults in 55.34 for seventh place.

Lennon was next with Gelvins Touch (Touchdown – Diamond Lad). The duo produced a superb left-hand turn into the third fence and a tight turn from the verticles fences six and seven which saw them stop the clock in a very fast 43.19 to head proceedings.

Fifth in, Greg Broderick and Molly Tracy’s 11-year-old Avanti gelding Chinook II began well and looked to be in touch to catch Lennon, but the second-half of the track did not go as well as the first; they faulted at the second part of the double to finish with four to add in 44.61 to slot into the runner-up spot.

Darragh Ryan and Alex Butler’s Rincoola Rua (Diamany de Semilly – Cruising) had the final fence down which demoted them to fifth place in 48.60.

Chs Krooze and Peter Smyth had a disappointing round when a miscommunictaion between the pair saw CHS Krooze lock on to the wrong vertical after a tight left-hand turn, Smyth did his best to correct the error but it caused him to cross his tracks and incur four faults in 46.14 to slot into third place.

Last to go Rory Costigan’s GRC Acapella (Luidam – Aldato) and Gemma Phelan had the first fence down in 46.66 to claim fourth place.

Two qualification spots for the international classes in Dublin are on offer for the top-two riders in the New Heights Series after the round in Tattersalls.

The highest placed riders are Greg Broderick and Dermott Lennon on 20 points a piece. Lennon has already a place in the internationals, so the place goes to the next rider on the list Captain Geoff Curran.

In last Saturday’s Friends of Rolestown-sponsored National Grand Prix a large field of 75 starters was soon whittled down to eight for the jump-off.

Of the eight combinations, six managed to produce a second clear round to claim a top-six finish.

Lennon and MJM Pursuit’s time of 36.41 was the fastest to secure the victory. Michael Pender and Marion Hughes’ HHS Burnchurch (Heritage Fortunas – Cavalier Royale) took the runner-up spot after stopping the clock at 37.02.

Third place went to Geoff Curran and the Minister for Defence’s Carnlea (Ars Vivendi – Olympic Lux) their time was 39.88.

Peter Smyth and Roscrib de Ross were fourth in 39.88, Greg Broderick and Dabelle slotted in fifth in 40.14, while the sixth place and final clear round was Kenneth Graham and Democrat in 40.51.

The next and 16th round of the National Grand Prix league takes place in Maryville, Co Cork, today (Saturday). The next and sixth round of the HSI/TRM New Heights Series is at the same venue tomorrow.