Following a short break for the Dublin Horse Show, the Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix and Premier Series resumed last weekend with the South County Dublin show. A popular fixture on the calendar, all proceeds from the show go to Riverside, Roandale and Avoca Services which deal with profoundly mentally handicapped adults in the Kildare Service at St. Raphael's Celbridge.

Taking place in Coilog Equestrian, 32 combinations lined-out for the National Grand Prix on Saturday. Tom Holden designed a fair track which resulted in 10 riders proceeding to the timed round. Although the class was hard fought, the line-up was dominated by two riders, Liam O’Meara and local rider Edward Doyle.

Taking the honours in the Friends of South County Grand Prix was O’Meara riding Mr Coolcaum. This was a decisive win for the Tipperary rider as it now places him in third place on the leaderboard behind Ger O’Neill, with just two rounds before the final.

Owned by O’Meara, Mr Coolcaum is a 12-year-old gelding by Coolcaum Hill and out of Ranch Lady. The gelding has proved very consistent for the rider in this series, clocking up a win in the round at Cavan, second in Charleville, third in Cork and sixth place in Connell Hill.

Double handed in the jump-off, O'Meara saved the best to last when clear in 37.15 seconds to take the win. Not content with the lion's share of the €5,000 prize fund, he also took third place with Helen Sheridan’s Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight when he delivered a clear in 39.36 for third.

Separating O'Meara's placings was Edward Doyle who lodged a clear with Paul Larkin’s Derryinver Luxury Cruise in 39.32 seconds for the runner-up spot. Doyle also found himself back in the ribbons when he partnered Kris Marshall’s Chirokko M to a clear in 39.55 for eventual fourth place.

Following a successful Dublin Horse Show, young rider Jessica Kuehnle made her presence felt when she partnered Deirdre Bourns and Hans Kuehnle's Tullibards Benny’s Legacy to a clear in 41.35 seconds for fifth place.

Following a nasty fall in the Land Rover Puissance at the Dublin Horse Show, Lt. David Power was back in the saddle and he put in a foot-perfect performance with Galway Bay Easy Touch in a time of 46.46 for eventual sixth place.

ONLY DOUBLE CLEAR

Last Sunday young rider Anna Carway recorded her first Horseware/TRM Premier Series win when taking the honours in the €10,000 Bagnall Doyle, MacMahon-sponsored class. Fourth to go in the second round riding Ajaccio, she delivered the only double clear in 45.27 seconds.

Owned by Carway, Ajaccio is an 11-year-old gelding by Risque out of Caretino. Prior to being taken over by Carway over two years ago, the gelding was campaigned by Bertram Allen and before this, Billy Twomey. Although it’s been a busy year for Carway with her Leaving Certificiate exams, she has clocked up a series of impressive results with Ajaccio, which included an eighth place finish in the Grand Prix in the CSI*** in Massongy and a win in the 1.35/1.40m young rider championship in Dublin.

Carway said: “This was my first Premier Series to compete in and it was great to win it. Ajaccio is really in great form and he couldn't be jumping any better. The aim was to try and put in a fast clear. I didn’t go flat out and my time could have been beaten, but thankfully the other riders had faults. The plan now is to go to Holland for two weeks and I will be taking three horses.”

Holden's course was well up to standard for the 22 starters. Although the course held no surprises, the combination and the last line demanded careful riding and as a result, six combinations proceeded to the second round. In round two, most of the faults were picked up in the final vertical heading towards the pocket.

Co Down rider Rebecca McGoldrick left everything in place first time out with Horatio Van Erpekom, but four faults second time out in 42.72 proved only good enough for the runner-up spot on this occasion

Winner the day before, Liam O’Meara picked up an unlucky four faults in the first round with Mr Coolcaum, but a clear in the second round in 44.78 saw him take third place.

Neal Fearon and Billy on Time booked their place in the second round when coming home clear, but four faults in the second round in 45.59 meant he took fourth place.

Four faults for Lt. David Power with Dollanstown in the second round in 51.43 proved good enough for fifth place and 16 faults with Dunganstown Boy in the second round in 58.32 saw him also take sixth.