Show Jumping

Emer Bermingham

Liam O’ Meara jumped to top of the SJI National Grand Prix leaderboard last Sunday when he took the honours at Barnadown.

Riding his own, Mr Coolcaum he took home the winners share of the €5,000 in the Ballywalter Farm Stallions sponsored class. This is the second consecutive win for O’ Meara having won the week before at Thomastown.

Bred by Kevin Farragher, Mr Coolcaum (ISH) is a 13-year-old gelding by Coolcaum Hill out of the Indian Ruler mare, Ranch Lady. This combination started the season off well when finishing third in the Grand Prix in Millstreet CSI1*.

Produced by O’Meara, the gelding has had a consistent record at Grand Prix level, over the last three years.

Course designer, John Doyle set the challenge for the 54 starters, with 19 of those contesting the jump-off. Second to go against the clock, Tholm Keane delivered the first double clear aboard James Buckley and Caroline Teltsch’s BMH Big Time in 44.96 seconds. Despite this good start, his lead held only temporarily as Jenny Rankin riding X-Flow Lightyear lowered the target to 41.40s.

Sixth to go in the jump-off , O’Meara set off strong with a tight turn back to fence nine and then to the double, this saw him set the unbeatable time of 39.17s. Next in, Darryl Walker kept everything in place aboard Manuela Martinelli’s Cushions in 40.67s which saw him slot temporarily into second place.

Speed merchants against the clock, Nicholas Butler and Vimminka tried hard to catch the leader, but despite a very fast pace, a clear in 39.19s proved only good enough for second place and in the process demoted Walker into third and Rankin in to fourth.

Double handed in the jump-off Francis Connors delivered his best result with Hyperion when he clocked 42.42s for eventual fifth and as a result Tholm Keane had to contend with eventual sixth place.

MERVUE EQUINE SUMMER TOUR

James Hogg made his mark on the Mervue Equine Summer Tour as he took both sections of the tour at Barnadown, last Saturday. Runner-up in the opening 1.35m round at Louth County, Hogg made no mistake on this occasion as he led the victory lap with Interpreter in the 1.35m division. The reigning champion, Francis Connors was fractions behind with Capitol Cruis in 34.30s for second place.

Not content with the runner-up spot, Connors also accounted for third place with Uskerty Diamond Lady when they crossed the line in 34.40s. Philip McGuane put in a foot-perfect performance with Dooleys Deluxe when he came home with nothing to add in 36.05s for eventual fourth.

Eddie Moloney took two places in the line-up when slotting into fifth place with Ember Flight in 34.96s and seventh place with Tonagh Trip The Lights in 36.91s. Fellow Kilkenny rider, Ger O’Neill separated Moloney’s placings when he took sixth place with Galway Bay Astrojet, clear in 36.74s. The leading young rider of this round was Cormac Foley riding Michael Ryan’s former international event horse Ballylynch Wizard. The top Pro-Am was Deirdre Reilly and San Marco Z.

In the 1.20m division there was another good turn-out with 57 combinations contesting the round.

James Hogg once again proved unbeatable when he delivered the winning round with European Cruise when clear in 32.36s. Tholm Keane was close on his heels as he lodged a clear with Vivian Lee in 32.66s for second place.

Place fifth in the opening round, Sean Kavanagh and Finsceal Indiana improved on this performance when they slotted into third place when they clocked 33.09s.

Placed fourth in Louth County, Michael Cave added to his tally when he partnered Mirdads Allamdu Lillah to a clear in 33.78s for eventual fourth.

In fifth place was Feaha Moore and Carraigh Samraigh, clear in 35.29s, ahead of Marie Vozone and Lowhill Glenard Lad in 35.42s.

STUDBOOK SERIES

In the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series, Castlefield Vegas (ISH) by Cassino (SWWB), owned by Martin Egan and Ger O’Neill, and ridden by Ger O’Neill jumped double clear in a time of 38.40 seconds to win the seven-year-old final at Barnadown on Sunday.

Taking second was Jessica Burke and Express Trend clear in 41.28s, ahead of Gemma Phelan and Quality Villane in 44.60s. Francis Connors and BP Castlefield took fourth when clear in 45.35s, while Sophie Richards and Killossery Kuidam took fifth when they clocked 50.75s. Liam O’ Meara completed the top six line-up when Russel Style carrying four faults in 42.33s.

In the five-year-old final, 10 combinations jumped double clear to split the win. While in the six-year-olds, there were only six clear rounds.