LIAM O’Meara made it four-in-a-row when he rode Mr Coolcaum to victory in the Showjumping Ireland National Grand Prix at the Galway Equestrian charity show in Athenry last Sunday.

With National Grand Prix wins so far in Thomastown, Barnadown, Cavan and Galway, O’Meara heads the league leaderboard by a margin of 27 points after six rounds.

“I’m delighted to win here in Galway today. This makes it four-in-a-row for me so I can’t complain,” said O’Meara following the win.

“The course was up to height and I knew I would have to put pressure on the 11 coming behind me so I tried to go as quick as I could.

“He (Mr Coolcaum) is a great horse, we’ve come up together really. He was the first horse that I rode at Grand Prix level.

“We began when he was six or seven and he has been very forgiving of the mistakes I made. He never got frightened and just kept jumping. We learned together I suppose.

“This was a great show and the going was good on the grass so that was great.

“I was last to go with my other horse Jack Take Flight who won in Cavan last week. I didn’t want to ask too much of him; just to pop around. His round wasn’t fast but he was clear and almost everyone else had collected faults so he finished in third place which was great.”

JUMP-OFF

A total of 13 combinations qualified for the timed decider. There was one withdrawal, Vincent Byrne, who had decided to save his mount Hannibal V Overis Z for the New Heights Grand Prix in Ballinasloe this weekend.

O’Meara and Mr Coolcaum were first to go in the 12-way jump-off. The 13-year-old gelding has earned himself a reputation as the one to watch against the clock and he, once again, didn’t disappoint on this occasion.

A fast pace from the off and well executed turns throughout Tom Holden’s challenging track, which saw several lead changes between the seven obstacles, meant that O’Meara was setting the bar high.

With no problems clearing the fences he steered his mount through the most economical path and stopped the clock at 41.86. This time was not beaten by any of the remaining 11 and O’Meara captured himself another Grand Prix win.

Sven Hadley and Sumas Taloubet came closest to catching O’Meara with their clear round in a time of 44.88 seconds, which saw them take the runner-up spot.

O’Meara and his winning mount in Cavan just seven days earlier, Curraghgragiue Jack Take Flight, finished in third place after they posted the third and only other double clear round of the class in a time of 47.61.

Daryl Walker and Cushions finished in fourth place as the fastest four faulters in 42.86, while Paul Beecher and Ikona VT Recht Eind slotted into fifth place in 45.40 with four faults to add.

Martin Hynes and Galway Brigade occupied sixth place with four faults in a time of 48.53.

The next round of the National Grand Prix league takes place today in Ballinasloe.