The second round of the Derryronane Stud 1.35m Grand Prix League took centre stage at Duffy’s Equestrian Centre last Sunday, attracting 28 combinations to compete for a lucrative €3,000 prize fund sponsored by O’Malley & Co Accountants, Galway.
The competition proved highly competitive, with 14 combinations progressing to the jump-off and eight delivering double-clear performances.
Young rider Stephen Gibbons emerged victorious aboard the impressive eight-year-old gelding Ceide Candy Heart, producing a flawless jump-off round in 32.85 seconds.
Owned by Jane Gibbons and bred by Mary Walsh, Ceide Candy Heart is by Garryduff Jar Of Hearts out of the Sligo Candy Boy mare Ceide Heather Honey. The pair had been unlucky in the opening round of the league, picking up four faults, but made no mistake this time around.
Speaking after his win, Gibbons said he was delighted with both the result and his horse’s performance.
“I was very happy with the win and how the horse went. I saw Shane Goggins go just before me in the jump-off and he was very quick, so I knew what I had to do.
“I took a stride out in the first line, kept everything tight and kept moving forward. My horse is naturally quick and he jumped his heart out.
“It was a great result just before the first seven- and eight-year-old qualifier for Dublin next week, which we will be competing in. It was a great show as usual put on by the Duffy family. A special thanks to Dara O’Malley for his kind sponsorship of the class, and to everyone involved in our yard.”
Last week’s winners Shane Goggins and Boleybawn Cayman had to settle for runner-up honours on this occasion, stopping the clock in 34.81 seconds.
Aoife McCabe and Heritage Enigma improved on their fifth-place finish in the opening round to secure third place with a clear in 35.23 seconds. The 11-year-old mare, bred by Anne-Marie O’Gorman, is by Eldorado van de Zeshoek.
Fresh from a third-place finish in the 1.40m Grand Prix at Millstreet, Liam O’Meara and the stallion Big Dan Rouet slotted into fourth place with a clear in 35.47 seconds.
Joyce Veld and Corraghoe Bounce took fifth place after opting for safe lines in the jump-off, delivering a measured clear in 39.06 seconds. Owned by Miley Dunning, the 14-year-old gelding is by Lux Z out of the Cruising mare Corraghoe Tiger.
Leinster rider Lauren Murphy completed the top six with David Cullen’s Coco Du Rona Z, producing a foot-perfect clear round in 40.06 seconds.
Duffy Lands Home Victory in Premier Performance 1.20m
The Gillane Feeds Premier Performance 1.20m attracted a strong entry of 36 combinations, with victory staying on home soil thanks to Mark Duffy and Caraghs Trendy Master.
The winning pair produced a double clear in the two-phase competition, stopping the clock in 32.28 seconds.
Nadine Carey and Sacre Bleu, owned by Deirdre Murnane, were close behind in second on 33.16 seconds, while Lauren Murphy and Cruiceraths Antonio claimed third with a clear in 33.85 seconds.
Shane Goggins and Clooncalagy Bobby took fourth in 35.46 seconds, ahead of Orla Dixon and Castlelawn Lux Special in fifth on 36.70 seconds.
Junior rider Mark Mellett and Love To Be Cruising completed the top six with a clear in 41.50 seconds.
Dixon Dominates Flexineb by Nortev Connaught Showjumping 1.10m League
Orla Dixon took top honours in the Flexineb by Nortev Connaught Showjumping 1.10m League aboard Ravens Mister Rolo, producing the fastest clear round in 29.30 seconds.
Amateur rider Tara Brandon (AA), who finished second the previous week, repeated that result with the eight-year-old Bec Phoenix, clear in 29.89 seconds.
Richard Kerins and Jean Gilligan’s six-year-old HHL Markievicz secured third place in 34.41 seconds.
Rachel Parry and Bien Sur finished fourth in 36.09 seconds, narrowly ahead of junior rider Mia Roberts and May Future Ri, who stopped the clock in 36.32 seconds.
Abby Kelehan and Sunset Boy rounded out the top six with a clear in 36.76 seconds.
Devine Claims Amateur League Honours
The Connaught Showjumping Amateur League, which also incorporated a qualifier for the NAPS/Circulo National Amateur League, saw Caroline Devine (A) and Captain Devine take the win with a clear round in 34.62 seconds.
Niamh Quinn (AA) and Clonguish Vivaro finished a close second in 34.78 seconds, while Nathan Kenny (AA) and Lachain Princess were third in 35.46 seconds.
Angela Devaney (A) and SVS Riverstown Aftershock delivered the final double clear in 47.06 seconds to take fourth place.
Liam Hennessy (A) and Leanorth Grey Matter were the fastest of the four-faulters to secure fifth place in 40.33 seconds.
Karen Broderick (AA) and Hermes van de Heffinck completed the top six with four faults in 40.47 seconds.