THE summer show jumping season kicked off last weekend, with The Meadows Equestrian in Co Armagh playing host to the SJI National Grand Prix and the TRM/ HSI New Heights Champions Premier Series.

On Saturday, Donegal native Kenneth Graham claimed victory in the Henry Murray & Co sponsored SJI National Grand Prix. Riding George, Graham lodged the winning clear round in 38.41 seconds. Graham has only recently returned from a successful jumping tour in Oliva, Spain where he was competing in the three-star and the young horse classes.

Bred by Grainne Gormley, George is a 14-year-old ISH gelding by Touchdown and out of the Cloverhill-sired mare Solas Dubh. This combination has a string of good results at home and abroad. Last year at Hickstead they put in a solid performance and finished just outside the top 10 in the Bunn Leisure Derby Tankard.

At the one-star international show in Cavan they recorded two wins. Prior to this they took the win in the National Grand Prix in Omagh and finished sixth in the New Heights Champion Series in Omagh. This year they finished second in the Spring Tour in Cavan.

Also returning from a successful stint on the European circuit, Michael Pender made his mark when he piloted Casanova Van Overis Z to a clear in 39.83. As well as taking the runner-up place, Pender finished as the leading young rider. Owned by Miguel Bravo, Casanova Van Overis Z was bred by Gerard Lenaerts and is by Casper Van Erpekom Z, out of Eau De Parfum Van Overis.

National young rider champion Jack Ryan’s clear with Cavalier Teaca in 40.09 secured him fourth place. Ryan, who is trained by Eddie Moloney, has had a great start to the year, winning two 1.40m at the two-star show in Kronenberg. Owned by Jack’s mother, Marguerite, Cavalier Teaca is an 11-year-old mare by Glidawn Diamond, out of the Cavalier Royale-sired mare Teaca and was bred by Barry Kiernan.

Amateur rider, Vickie Anderson is certainly proving to be a force to be reckoned with as she moved up to Grand Prix level with her reliable mount Zack. A solid performance saw them deliver a clear in 46.38 for eventual fourth place.

Gemma Phelan was fifth aboard GRC Acapella (0/0 46.40), and Tholm Keane was the last of six riders to deliver a clear round with BMH Big Time (0/0 47.86). Some 15 of the 92 starters made it through to the jump-off.

Good start

Winner of the New Heights Champions Series in 2017, National Champion Greg Broderick got off to another good start as he led the victory lap in Saturday’s TRM/HSI New Heights Champions Series. Riding Duco, the Tipperary rider was one of only two double clears in the 10 way jump-off in a time of 47.69 seconds.

Owned by Mary Ellen De Ruschi, Duco (KWPN) is a 10-year-old gelding by Vigaro out of Upperlaine. Duco made an appearance on the National circuit with Darragh Ryan in Warrington and before this, was campaigned by Broderick in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain in March. Prior to moving to Ballypatrick, Duco was campaigned by Shane Breen and Michael Duffy.

Mayo native Ciaran Nallon (16) demonstrated his talent when he delivered the only other double clear with Arkino Z in a time of 48.33 for second place. Nallon, who is still competing in ponies, boasts an impressive record. Last year he was part of the Irish team that claimed gold at the Pony European Championships in Hungary, among many other wins.

Unlucky

Co Down’s Dermott Lennon kept all the poles in place with Gelvins Touch in the first round, but four faults in a fast time of 43.26 would later see him account for third place. Graham and George were back in the line-up on Sunday. The combination had an unlucky four faults in the first round, but kept everything in place in the second round in 43.75 seconds for eventual fourth.

Captain Geoff Curran put in a faultless performance aboard Shannondale Rahona in the first round, but four faults against the clock in 44.04 only proved good enough for fifth place.

Competing in their first ever 1.50m New Heights Champions Series, Kate Derwin and AHG Whiterock Cruise Down also put in a solid performance. The pairing incurred four faults in the first round, but returned to deliver a clear in the timed round in 46.49 for sixth place.

Derwin is no stranger to success in the pony arena, with a host of results at home and abroad.

The Athlone teenager took the individual silver medal at the European Championships at Kaposvár, Hungary aboard Cull Ban Mistress (CP) and formed part of the gold medal-winning team.