Francis Connors landed his first victory in the TRM/Horse Sport Ireland New Heights Champions Series at Galway County Show last Sunday.

Riding Erne Ladygoldilocks, he delivered the only double clear in 47.37 seconds.

Bred and owned by Hugh Fitzpatrick from Co Cavan, Erne Ladygoldilocks is a 12-year-old mare by VDL Douglas and out of Erne Touch (Some Touch), who also had a successful career with Connors up to Grand Prix level and was under his command until 2002.

Fitzpatrick has five other offspring registered from this mare. He has used Lux Z on two occasions and has used Cruisings Micky Finn and more recently Exquis Powerfee and Arkan.

Tholm Keane and BMH Big Time added to their recent success and slotted into second, incurring a single time fault in 43.43.

In recent weeks this combination won the National Grand Prix at Barnadown, finished third in the international Grand Prix at Balmoral and fifth in the international Grand Prix at Mullingar.

Bred by Paula Abbey from Carlow and owned by James Buckley and Caroline Teltsch, BMH Big Time is 10-year-old stallion, by Luidam and out of the Cavalier-sired dam, Magestic Cavalier.

LOCAL SUCCESS

There was plenty of support for local rider Thomas O’ Brien, when he clocked the same time as Keane aboard Scarlet Quality, but four faults saw him finish third.

Owned by fellow showjumper Aoife Mc Cabe, the eight-year-old Belgian-bred mare is by Sandro Boy out of the Contender-sired dam, Contessa.

This was the first New Heights Champion Series competition for Scarlet Quality, who has been campaigned by Kevin Mc Cabe and Aoife Mc Cabe up to 1.35m level. Connections were very happy with how she moved up to this level and handled the challenge.

Accounting for fourth place was Kelda Morgan and Orbiting, when they had a pole down in a time of 47.97. This 14-year-old gelding is by Limmerick and is out of Takayama.

Another local combination, Raphael Lee and Captain Marko also featured in the line-up finishing fifth with five faults in a time of 48.14. Bred by Gabriel Slattery and owned by John Lee, the nine-year-old gelding is by Captain Clover and out of White Kannan.

This pair have held the Connaught Grand Prix league title for the last two years.

Sixth place went to Paul Beecher and Ikona V’T Recht Eind. This 11-year-old Belgian-bred mare is by Deauville De La Vie and out of Butterfly Vd Ruitershoeve.

The Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix

On Saturday, Liam O’ Meara recorded his first Grand Prix win of the season aboard Oldtown KC, jumping double clear in 37.14

Bred and owned by Tipperary man, Martin Coffey, this 15-year-old stallion is by Cruising and out of Oldtown Katie (Cloverfields), who had a successful career under Trevor Breen having jumped up to Grand Prix level until 2010.

Second place went to Peter Smyth and Des Le Debut, when clear in 38.12. Owned by John Fee, the 10-year-old Belgian-bred is by Ugano Sitte and out of Abby de l’epinette.

Smyth also finished fifth with Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick, when he delivered another clear round in a slightly slower time of 44.14.

Following a great performance at Balmoral International, Jonathan Smyth added to his record finishing third with Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig’s 10-year-old (Luidam x Castleconnor Baron) gelding, Mulvin Lui.

Jonathan also took sixth with Charlton Clio, when he was the fastest of the four fautlers in a time of 34.56. Bred by Peter Mulrine from Donegal and owned by Richard J W Smyth, Charlton Clio (ISH) is an 11-year-old mare by HHS BR Charlton out of the Clover Hill-sired mare, Admiran Clio. Mulrine has registered 10 offspring from the dam and three of those are by HHS BR Charlton.

Young rider Daniel Carroll and Armani BS recorded a steady double clear in 44.14 to take fourth place. Owned by Breda Caroll, the 12-year-old German bred gelding is by Acolord and out of Tiana.

ISH Studbook series

In the seven-year-old final of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Showjumping Series, it was Kildare’s Derek McConnell and Longfield Quinlui (ISH) who claimed victory in the Galway leg of the series, jumping clear in 47.75.

Longfield Quinlui (ISH) is by Quintender (HOLST) and out of Dshlyi (ISH), who is by Luidam (KWPN), and was bred by Seamus Drea. The combination were one of only four double clears in the class.