Tipperary’s Liam O’Meara stamped his authority on the Connolly’s Red Mills, Showjumpers Club Spring Tour, at Ravensdale Lodge last Sunday when he took the honours in the third round of the series. Not content with the win, the reigning league champion also accounted for two other places in the lineup. O’Meara, who normally starts the series with a opening win, is now playing catch up to Galway’s Sven Hadley who won the two opening rounds.

Riding Helen Sheridan’s Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, O’Meara posted the fastest clear in the 10-way-jump-off in 30.89 seconds to take the red rosette. Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight is a nine-year-old by Jacomar out of an Errigal Flight-sired mare, Curraghraigue Errigal. The gelding has proved to be a consistent campaigner for O’Meara with a series of impressive results at regional and national Grand Prix level.The combination got off to a decent start when taking fourth place in the opening round at JAG Equestrian.

DELIGHTED

A delighted O’Meara said: “All three horses jumped really well. The pressure was on as I had to go first with Lincourt Lux, who is quite new to me but he handled it well. Then I went third with the more experienced Kennys Flight and finally I had a good feel of the course when I took it on with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight. It was a very fair course designed by Ray Buchanan and I think that I made up the most time in the turn back to the oxer at three and seven. The plan is to have the horses ready for the national leagues and they seem to be on the right track.”

Placed second in Cavan last weekend, Shannon McKenzie demonstrated the same form when she partnered Ben’s Lady Lux to a clear in 31.77 seconds which saw her account for the runner-up place for the second week.

Winner of the last two rounds, Sven Hadley maintained the pressure when he kept all the poles in place with Sumas Taloubet. Last to go, Hadley took every tight turn, but stopping the clock in 33.67 seconds, proved only good enough for third place. This place however meant that he added six points to his tally and is enough to keep him top of the leader board for another week.

Kildare rider Daniel Fitzgerald opted for a more cautious approach with Godfrey Hughes’ Mullentine Jetstream and he crossed the line with nothing to add in 33.72 seconds.

The results saw him take fourth prize and along with it the Leading Young Rider prize of the round. Fitzgerald is an accomplished graduate of the pony arena with a host of wins in this division. Only last year, he competed in his first senior Grand Prix, while also competing in the 148cms division.

Liam O’Meara was back in the ribbons, this time taking fifth place with his own Kenny’s Flight. A faultless performance with the nine-year-old Errigal Flight-sired gelding in 34.18 seconds proved good enough for eventual fifth. O’Meara made the trip worthwhile when he picked up his last placing when he partnered John McLaughlin’s Lincourt Lux to a clear in 35.58 for sixth. By Lux Z and out of Lady Graf, the nine-year-old gelding is new to O’Meara having been produced by his owner up to this level.

John Floody proved out of luck when he crossed the line with Ballyknock Diamond carrying four faults in 33.67 for seventh place, ahead of young rider Jack Ryan who suffered a similar fate with Cavalier Teaca, albeit in a slower time of 33.98 for eighth.