Liam O’ Meara extended his lead on the national Grand Prix leader board as he took another win at Cavan Summer Show last Sunday.

Riding Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, who is owned his wife Helen, O’Meara recorded his third consecutive win of the league. This season, the combination have recorded two wins in the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring tour and two wins in the national Grand Prix league.

A total of 27 combinations went to post in the Cavan Equestrian sponsored class and of those eight proceeded to the timed round. First to go with Mr Coolcaum, Liam O’ Meara set the bar high when he crossed the line clear in 42.71 seconds. Returning with his second mount, John Mclaughlin’s nine-year-old gelding Lincourt Lux, O’ Meara delivered the next double clear in 49.61s, which temporarily saw him slot into second and later sixth place.

The lead changed hands when Clem McMahon negotiated a series of tight lines aboard Jabab De Reve and came home in 40.45s to take the lead from O’ Meara. Martin Hynes partnered Galway Brigade to a clear in 42.73s, which would later see him finish just below O’Meara and Mr Coolcaum who finished up in eventual fourth place. The penultimate pairing, Philip Gaw and Rocky Bond jumped clear in a time of 41.75s which would later see them account for third place. Last to go, all eyes were on Liam O’ Meara as he returned with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, speed merchant against the clock, O’Meara’s risk taking paid off as he lodged the winning round of clear in 38.57s seconds and in the process demoted McMahon into second.

STUDBOOK SERIES

There was another good turnout for the ISH Studbook Series at Cavan Summer Show. In the seven-year-old division, victory belonged to Clem Mcmahon when he partnered the Hilton-owned Hilton Alibi (ISH) by Pacino (BWP) to a win. They delivered a double clear in a time of 38.24s.

Second place went to Mervyn Clarke and Thomascourt Senna ahead of Liam O’ Meara and Russel Style. In fourth place was Edward Little and Jack Diamond, while fifth place belonged to Kelly Taggart and LCC Empty Pockets.

Taking sixth place was Paul Carberry and Brandonview First Edition. One of only nine double clears in the seven-year-old class, McMahon beat off stiff competition from the twenty-five combinations who made it through to the final. In the five-year-old final, nine combinations jumped double clear to split the win. While in the six-year-olds, there were twelve clear rounds.