Tipperary’s Greg Broderick is certainly proving to be a force to be reckoned with, as he recorded his second win in the TRM/Horse Sport Ireland New Heights Champions Series at Portmore, Co Armagh, last Sunday.

Riding Mary Ellen De Ruschi’s 10-year-old KWPN gelding Duco, Broderick delivered the only double clear of the class in a time of 39.83 seconds.

By Vigaro and out of Upperlaine, Duco had moved up to 1.50m level with ease at the opening round in The Meadows the week before. The horse had been competing in Vejer de la Frontera CSI4* in March under Broderick’s command.

In another competitive class last Sunday, 30 combinations went to post in the €10,000 class.

The fastest of the four combinations carrying four faulters, and four on zero faults returned to contest the second round.

Carrying four faults in the first round, Nicholas Butler and Vimminka kept all the poles in place second time out and crossed the line in 36.04 for second place.

Owned by Ladycastle Syndicate, Vimminka has been a loyal servant for the Butler family, with a host of results at home and abroad.

Bred by Fam.Verhey Scheulder, the KWPN mare is out of Nabab De Reve out of the Topas-sired Naminka.

Clear

Coming forward with a zero score with the Sandra Duffy-owned Cento Blue, Australian rider Jake Hunter had an unlucky four faults in the second round. A fast time of 40.17 would later see him take third place.

Just 21 years old, Hunter was the highest placed young rider and took home a €100 TRI voucher.

He has been a stable rider for the Duffy family since 2014, when he competed alongside Michael Duffy in the Youth Olympic Games in China.

Along with campaigning up to 14 horses on the Irish and European circuit for the Duffys, Hunter also helps on the mixed farm in Ballina, when time permits.

Placed sixth in the National Grand Prix in The Meadows, Tholm Keane and BMH Big Time moved up a gear as they shared third place with Hunter.

The pairing completed the first round on zero faults, but added four to their score in the second round in a time of 40.17.

Mayo rider Ciaran Nallon featured in the line-up for the second week, having taken second place at The Meadows.

Again riding Arkino Z, four faults in the first round had them at a disadvantage but a clean sheet in the second round in a time of 41.05 proved good enough for fifth place.

Captain Geoff Curran and Hallowberry Cruz finished sixth when they recorded four faults in each round and clocked 37.70.