JOHN Floody had a great start to his 2022 campaign when he captured the top spot in the second round of the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour Grand Prix in Cavan last Sunday aboard Accidental Diamond.

Owned by Kathryn Magennis, the 10-year-old gelding was bred by John Kearney and is by Diamond Roller out of Cottage Donna (High Roller).

Speaking after the win, Floody said: “I think I was pretty quick back from fence two to three, and then I took a stride out to the last as normal. The last line was a good long run so you got the opportunity to gallop so we made up some time there, he has a huge stride so it’s easy for him to take one out.

“As usual I thought the track was excellent. Stuart (Clarke) is a great course designer, he has so much experience. He got a good number through to the jump-off, you don’t want to be building too big this early in the year; it was testing enough but clever questions meant he got just the right amount through.”

Early to go against the clock in the 12-horse jump-off, Floody did not think he had done enough. “I was fourth to go in the jump-off and there was only one clear round at that stage so you just don’t know how quick to go, but I knew riders like Emily Turkington and a couple of fast ones were after me so I had to put a reasonable effort in to make sure I ended up in the top six anyway.

“I didn’t think I’d win it with that round, but I’m very pleased that it worked out that way.”

For sale

“I hope to jump the 1.40m classes with him this year, but I don’t know how much longer I will have this horse. I know his owner is keen to sell him, she has just had a baby, so I will continue to try to do my best with him. He has been a great servant to me and he has improved so much, it will be a big loss to me.

“He is a big horse but is straightforward and not difficult to ride. He has a great brain, lots of scope and is very competitive.”

On his other horses, Floody added: “I also have Clare Craig’s nine-year-old gelding HTS Carnanbreagha (Sir Shutterfly x Aldatus Z). This was his first show back, he had a fence down but I was pleased with how he went.

“I’ve had him since he was four years old and have brought him along slowly. I think he’s a very nice horse and a great model, so hopefully he can fill in the gap if the other horse is sold.

“I also have Kevin and Geralyn Thompson’s Dutch-bred gelding Donevan Erkindale, he has won a lot of classes for me over the past two years. I have a few talented youngsters coming up too, so that is exciting.”

Competitive

A total of 45 starters lined out for the second round of the 1.35m league. Of these, 12 made it through to the jump-off.

Laurence Mowatt and Evergreen M just missed out, collecting a single time fault in round one. A further 12 combinations had a single fence down for four faults.

Floody and Accidental Diamond’s fault-free jump-off round in a time of 31.42 proved fastest and awarded the pair the lion’s share of the €2,500 on offer.

Junior rider Matthew Conlon took the runner-up spot with Marble Arch Equine Ltd’s 14-year-old chesnut gelding Ping Ball (Beach Ball x Western Promise), stopping the clock at 32.11.

Third went to Leo Carey and his own nine-year-old gelding Kan Cruise (Kannan x Cruising) in 32.49, while Donald Loughran’s eight-year-old gelding Cornet (Corenet Prinz x Clarimo), ridden by Emily Turkington, was fourth in 32.84.

International event rider Cathal Daniels and his own 11-year-old gelding Cappog Tomy (Camiro De Haar Z x S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe) slotted into fifth, and Robyn Mora, riding Vera Griffin’s Cushlas Fryday (Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve x Apache D’Adriers) completed the line up in sixth.