SHOW JUMPING

Emer Bermingham

The Gain/Alltech Grand Prix Autumn League came to a conclusion last Friday at Cavan International Show, with Damien Griffin winning the final round and John Floody taking the league title.

Just a six-point advantage separated leader John Floody and Cormac Hanley going into the final round, but with both riders failing to make the jump-off, the league title was decided in the first round.

Taking the title on 34 points was John Floody, while Mise le Meas was crowned the leading horse of the league when also finishing on 34 points.

This was the second time for Floody to take this title, having won it with Larkhill Cruiser in 2010. Floody claimed the runner-up position at the first round at Ravensdale and then a win at the Meadows, followed by another in Wexford Equestrian with the eight year-old Cruise On-sired gelding Mise le Meas.

Floody said: “It is a great achievement for Mise le Meas. He jumped fantastically throughout the league. I am delighted for his owner Mathew Birch and his breeder Michael Smith. I suppose with Larkhill Cruiser being sold it left a bit of a gap for me in terms of horsepower. It takes time to produce these horses and it’s great to be at this competitive level again.”

A total of 40 riders took up the challenge in the final round and nine proceeded to the jump-off track. Second to go, Darryl Walker made no mistake as he lodged the first double clear with Riverside Ace. Walker’s hope of a win were dashed, however, when the pairing incurred eight faults in the jump-off.

Second to go, Kenneth Graham’s careful approach with Orbiting paid off as he lodged the first double clear in 44.13 and provisionally took the lead. Graham’s lead was short lived, however, as Michael G. Duffy and Bocello upped the pace and shaved over four seconds of the lead when clocking 39.94.

Young rider Anna Carway didn’t put a foot wrong with the ever consistent Ajaccio and although she kept it tight, a clear in 43.54 meant that she finished just ahead of Graham in the final lineup in fourth place.

Gerard Clarke had his eye on the red rosette as he took it on with Rafiki, but four faults at the third fence and clocking 40.76 ruled them out of contention.

Next in, Jordan Coyle and VDl Cassius suffered a similar fate, but a slighter faster time of 39.82 saw him take eventual sixth.

Damien Griffin meant business from the start as he took on the course aboard Tabby. Griffin first made up the time in fence one to two. This, along with a inside line back to the double and then back to the third last oxer, saw him on Duffy’s target at this point. Cheered on by the crowd, the Galway rider put his foot to the floor to the last line and it paid off as he lodged the winning time of 37.71, demoting Duffy to second place.

Owned by Pamela Donaghy, Tabby is a 10-year-old Irish Sport horse by Captain Clover out of Majestic Cruise. The gelding has been consistent for Griffin, clocking up a series of good results up to Premier Series level.

No stranger to this type of pressure, Waterford’s Francis Connors set off in a calculated pace with Erne Lady Goldilocks. Similar to Griffin he took the tight turns, but despite this failed to alter the standings and a clear in 40.46 saw him finish just behind Duffy in the lineup.

Last to go, Catherine Thornton’s four faults aboard Derryinver Luxury Cruise meant she failed to make the top six placings on this occasion.