SIXTEEN-year-old Claremorris show jumping talent Stephen Gibbons tightened his grip on the leaderboard of the 1.35m Connacht Grand Prix League taking his second win of the league at Headford Show on Sunday.

Seven combinations made it through to the jump-off over the course built by Paul Duffy. First in, Damien Griffin and his own seven-year-old Kinmar Candy Hero (Sligo Candy Boy x Aganiz du Seigneur), bred by Mary King Marron, had a fence down and had to settle for eventual seventh place.

Next to go was Shane Goggins on Jack Goaley’s Boleybawn Cayman (Casidee x Ard VDL Douglas), bred by Ronan Rothwell, and they set the class alight when he turned inside the wall to the double, finishing in 44.87, and it looked a very difficult target.

Gibbons was next to go with the ever-consistent Cassius Z, owned by his mother Jane. The pair did all the same lines as Goggins, but a flyer to the last jumped them to the top of the leaderboard when clear in a time of 44.35. Next in, young rider Pataire Crawford settled for a steady clear to eventually secure fourth place with Claire Crawford’s Jippie.

The next man to lay down a challenge was Lee Carey with Niall Carey’s 10-year-old gelding Luxity (OBOS Quality x Lux Z) and, crossing the line in 44.87, they came up just short to take the runner-up spot. Mark Duffy with Karen Geoghegan’s Figaro VII and Shane Goggins riding Sandra Duffy’s GSS Victor finished fifth and sixth with double clear rounds.

The win in the Duffy Sport Horses 1.25m went to Nadine Carey and Sacre Bleu, ahead of Aoife McCabe on Red Bull Quality Z in second and Shane Goggins in third with Lady Town Emily.

Young rider Grace O’Connor and Deedee won a very competitive 1.15 league with local rider Clodagh Lee and Erne Cruising Breeze taking second.

In the Beyond Beauty Skincare and Laser Clinic Amateur League, Cora Horan picked up the winning rug with Coronado, ahead of James Cunningham who jumped the only other double clear in the class with MayC. Meanwhile the Puissance competition was shared between Michael Caufield with Thomas O’Brien’s Habab Elrite and Keith Moloney riding Danien Griddin’s Van-Al-Z.

The next leg of the Connacht League takes place at Corrandula Show on June 25th.