Following three wins in the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour, Jordan Coyle’s good form continued as he led the victory lap in last Saturday’s TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix at Louth County Show.

Riding Ronan McLaughlin’s nine-year-old gelding Colour Blue, Coyle’s round of clear in 38.18 seconds saw him take home the lion’s share of the €5,000 in the LHK Insurance-sponsored class. By Mister Blue out of Whoopy C, Colour Blue was previously campaigned by his owner at 1.20m level before moving to Coyle earlier in the year. This was the gelding’s first Grand Prix result.

The first Grand Prix of the year on grass, the event was well supported with 68 riders battling it out over the Tom Holden-designed track. Of the original starters, 12 combinations secured their place in the timed round. Taking a break from her eventing duties, Elizabeth Power lodged a clear with Doonaveeragh O One in 38.25 for second place. Runner-up in the Spring Tour, John Floody duly delivered as he piloted Ballyknock Diamond to a clear in 38.78 for third.

Reigning national Grand Prix champion, Darryl Walker was clear with last year’s leading horse Cushions in 40.71 for fourth place. Kenneth Graham and Lenamore Lucy Lou crossed the line with nothing to add in 43.23 for fifth place. Bought for just €1 in 2012 because of a sweet itch problem, Lenamore Lucy Lou represented Ireland in Lanaken in 2014 and has clocked up a series of good results at home and abroad.

Taking sixth place in the line-up when delivering the last double clear was Aoife Dooley riding Calgot Hero in 46.02.

Win for Rogan

On Sunday, riders were in action in the first round of the TRM/Horseware Premier Series. Taking the honours and the winner’s share of the €10,000 in the Horseware-sponsored class was Deane Rogan riding Falco van Spieveld. Competing in their fourth event of the year, the pairing were the fastest of only three double clears of the class in 50.31 seconds.

Owned by LSF Show-jumpers, Falco van Spieveld is an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, by Toulon and out of Melissa. The combination started the season on a strong note, claiming the runner-up spot in 1.35m at Millstreet CSI** and later a win in the Spring Tour in Maryville.Rogan said: “I am delighted with the win, a great start to the season. The plan now is to compete on the European circuit. I will be back to compete in more of the rounds and hopefully do enough to secure my place in Dublin Horse Show."

Captain Geoff Curran was just over four seconds behind in the second round when lodging a clear with Ringwood Glen in 54.14 for the runner-up spot.

Returning from a successful trip at Oliva, Valencia CSI***, Francis Connors partnered Erne Lady Goldilocks to a double clear in 56.46 for third place. Bred and owned by Hugh Fitzpatrick, the nine-year-old mare by VDL Douglas has been produced by Connors from a six-year-old.

Edward Butler proved out of luck when faulting in the first round with Cornet Son but made no mistake second time out as he lodged a clear in 52.66 for eventual fourth.

Elizabeth Power found herself back in the ribbons aboard Doonaveeragh O One, four faults in the second round in 52.72 putting her in fifth place. Aoife Dooley partnered Sandra Lennon’s Calgot Hero into sixth place, incurred four faults second time out, albeit in 56.07.

Wizard Win

Louth County also played host to the first round of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Showjumping Series.

Taking the honours in the competitive seven-year-old division was Philip McGuane. Riding Barry O’Connor and Martin O’Dea’s Cobra (HOLST) gelding, LVS Wizard, he was fastest of the 10-way jump-off in 41.17 seconds.

In the five-year-old final, nine combinations produced double clear rounds to share the prize fund while in the six-year-old final, 15 combinations jumped two fault-free rounds to share the prize.