Fitzpatrick takes top spot in opening National Grand Prix

The Underwriting National Grand Prix league got off to its delayed start last Sunday (5 July), with Kilkenny’s Susan Fitzpatrick claiming victory in the opening round at Galway Equestrian.

Fitzpatrick rode her own Verdict de Kezeg and set the winning time of clear in 35.42. The 11-year-old gelding is by Diamant de Semilly and out of the Vas Y Donc Longane sired dam, Hazelle de Rhuys.

Delighted with the result, Fitzpatrick said: “Verdict de Kezeg has been rearing to go all through lockdown so it’s brilliant to get one on the board early in the National Grand Prix league. I took over the ride from a Swiss friend of mine Ines De Melo and I’m incredibly grateful to the family for trusting me with this very talented horse. A special thanks to my good friend Mikey Pender, who rode the horse for me when I was out of action.”

The inaugural event saw a good turnout, with 56 taking on the Tom Holden-designed course. Despite the prolonged break from shows due to Covid-19, 18 combinations produced clear rounds to move into the jump-off round. Nine of those delivered double clears.

Taking the runner-up spot was Captain Geoff Curran riding the Minister for Defence-owned HHS Clinstown, when he was fractions behind in a time of 37.98. This horse is a nine-year-old by OBOS Quality 004 and out of MHS Kilkenny Lady.

Third place went to local rider Raphael Jnr Lee, who was just over a second behind Curran on John Lee’s 10-year-old Captain Marko, who stopped the clock at 39.06.

Young horses

In the first leg of the seven-year-old division of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Showjumping Series, John McEntee took the top spot with Marion Hughes’s HHS Vancouver (ISH) by Pacino (BWP).

In the five-year-old final, 19 combinations jumped double clear to split the win, while in the six-year-olds, there were 28 clear rounds.

Frances O’Brien of Galway Equestrian Centre said:“We are delighted to be hosting the first leg of the ISH Showjumping Series in 2020.

“We welcomed the new SJI Live system and it has worked extremely well for all competitors and it aided in the smooth and successful running of our show.”

The next leg of the series takes place in Barnadown on 18-19 July.