Curran crowned national show jumping champion

Waterford-born army rider Captain Geoff Curran and the Minister For Defence-owned Irish Sport Horse Glengarra Wood were crowned 2020 Irish National Show Jumping Champions following Sunday’s (6 September) Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Premier Series final at Portmore Equestrian Centre.

Captain Curran had been sitting in second place in the league table before Portmore, and a fifth place finish in the final saw him overtake leaders Ger O’Neill and MHS High Hopes.

Speaking after the win, Curran said: “It’s an honour that I’m very happy to have and it’s been a long time since we’ve won it [national showjumping champion title] in the [army equitation] school so I’m very privileged to have the title.

“The horse [Glengarra Wood] has been the most consistent in the league so it’s worked out well that he won it. He’s been placed at every leg of the league so he’s a deserved winner.

“It looked in March and April that we wouldn’t have anything to play for so it’s been great to get back out competing. To clinch the title on the final day means everything to me,” Curran said.

A nail-biting finish saw Kevin Gallagher and the Irish Sport Horse Ballypatrick Flamenco win the Grand Prix at Portmore with one of just two double clear rounds.

Gallagher and Ballypatrick Flamenco’s win saw them finish as league runners-up, while Ger O’Neill and MHS High Hopes took third place overall.

“The horse [Ballypatrick Flamenco] has gone from strength to strength and has improved nearly every leg he’s jumped,” Gallagher said after his win.

“To take home the win today is unbelievable, it shows the work and the training we’ve put into the horse in the last few months,” Gallagher said.

Nine combinations went through to the jump-off and Gallagher took the lead when second last to go with Ballypatrick Flamenco who was bred by Dr Noel Cawley and is owned by Greg Broderick.

Kenneth Graham put in a great effort when last to go with George and their clear round would see them finish as runners-up while Anthony O’Regan and Feedback finished third with two time faults in the first round followed by a clear against the clock.

Series support

Speaking after the competition, HSI CEO Ronan Murphy said: “On behalf of Horse Sport Ireland, I want to congratulate Captain Geoff Curran on being crowned 2020 Irish National Champion and overall HSI Premier Series winner and also congratulate all of the winners we had during the series. We are delighted with how the series was supported by our top riders, owners and breeders since it started following the resumption of equestrian competitions in July and we were rewarded with fantastic competitions. The Premier Series is the pinnacle of national show jumping in Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland were delighted to give our support once again this year.”

Young rider and Kildare native Mikey Pender landed his first win in the Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix on Saturday (5 September) in Portmore Equestrian Centre, Co Antrim.

Riding the Miguel Bravo-owned Javas Gucci, Pender took home the winner’s share of the €4,000 on offer in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds-sponsored class. Pender, who recently returned from a successful tour in Europe, has made his presence felt on the national circuit, having notched up some impressive wins and placings at the Irish Breeders Classic at Barnadown. Pender won the 1.40m Grand Prix with HHS Fortune, took second place in the five-year-old open studbook class with Cubix van de Berghoeve Z and fifth in the 1.50m Grand Prix with HHS Calais.

Bred by Judy Murphy from County Louth, Javas Gucci is an eight-year-old gelding by Luidam and out of the Cruising sired dam, Javas Honey. At the start of this year, this combination had clocked up results on the European circuit while competing in Vilamoura and Vejer de la Frontera CSI3*.

Young riders

It was no surprise that a young rider came out on top in Portmore as 15 of the 47 combinations on the start list were filled by young riders. Out of the original starters, 13 proceeded to the jump-off and eight delivered double clear rounds.

Reigning National Grand Prix champion, Liam O’Meara didn’t hang about with Helen Sheridan’s Russel Style, but failed to match the winners time when clocking 43.43 for second place.

Derek McConnell and his charge Dothraki have proved very consistent in this league and they added seven more points to their tally, when they stopped the clock in 44.74 for third place. Tim MacDonagh also put in a foot perfect round with Hollypark Galloway, but a slower time of 45.48 proved good enough for fourth place in the line-up.

Little divided the next placing as Philip Gaw and Ardnacashel Coovella stopped the clock in 45.52 seconds for fifth place. Another young rider, Adam Carey also featured in the line-up when he partnered Quebello D to a clear in 45.69 seconds for sixth place.

Following the cancellation of the Connemara Pony Sales in Clifden last month, the organisers have announced new dates of 26 and 27 September for a rescheduled renewal of the sale. The sale will be run in adherence with all Covid-19 guidelines. Entries are open via connemaraponysales.com.