The Horseware/TRM Premier Series came to an exciting conclusion last Sunday at the Meadows, following six hard fought rounds. Only 10 points separated Capt Geoff Curran and Francis Connors ahead of the final leg but Curran managed to hold on to his lead winning the final leg to take the Premier Series title.

Despite the close finish in the Premier Series, the National Championship title was decided before the final as it is based on the horse and rider combination. Connors and Erne Ladygoldilocks were top of the leader board on 27 points followed by Capt Geoff Curran and Ringwood Glen on 16 points. Owned by Hugh Fitzpatrick, Erne Ladygoldilocks is a nine-year-old mare by VDL Douglas out of Erne Touch.

Delighted with winning the National Championship title, Connors said: "It is a great honour to win this title. This is my second year to have done it, as I won it back in the early '90s with Spring Elegance. I knew going into the final that I had done enough and although I did not feature in the jump-off I went home happy with winning the accolade.”

FINAL ROUND

As expected, the final round was more than challenging with riders facing a technical course as designed by international course designer Tom Holden. The course asked many questions and included a combination, a double and a series of related distances.

With the pressure on for the final round, just three riders from the listed 25 starters delivered clear rounds first time out, and a further three riders who finished the first round on four faults joined them in the timed decider.

With the Premier Series title on offer, Capt Geoff Curran got off to a good start for the Army Equitation School as he delivered a clear with Shannondale Rahona. The combination repeated this good form in the second round when they crossed the line in 44.47 seconds to take victory and the winner’s share in the Clive Richardson Ltd-sponsored €10,000 feature class.

Dermott Lennon and Horatio Van Erpekom were the next fastest of the double clears when they galloped home almost two seconds behind in a time of 46.44 for the runner-up place. Matt Garrigan's more cautious approach paid off with Contino 56 when clocking a double clear in 48.24 for third.

Shane Dalton and Captain's Magic Touch had an unlucky four faults in the first round, but they made no such mistake second time out when keeping everything in place in a time of 44.67 for fourth.

It has been a good season for Mikey Pender and he was back in the ribbons when taking fifth place with Z7 Cordanos V. The pairing were unlucky to fault in the first round, but an improvement on form saw them add nothing to their tally when clocking 44.88. First to go against the clock, Darryl Walker and Riverside Ace added a further eight faults to their first round score of four. A time of 48.35 meant he slotted into sixth place.

BYRNE LEADS

On Saturday, Vincent Byrne extended his lead on the leader board when finishing sixth place in the penultimate round of the Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix. Riding Caugherty, four faults in a time of 40.75 means he is six points ahead of Francis Connors and Gerard O’ Neill going into the final at Cork.

Taking the win on the day in the Henry Murray & Co sponsored class was Emily Turkington and Legend when clear in 40.23. It was a good day for Turkington as she also took fifth place with Willem when fastest of the four faulters in 38.97. The runner-up spot was occupied by Francis Connors and Hyperion, clear in 41.83, ahead of Jack Ryan and Cavalier Teaca in 42.01. In fourth place was Alexander Butler and Rincoola Rua, clear in 45.11.