Francis Connors and Uskerty Diamond Lady win Connolly's RED MILLS Munster opener at Ballylawn

Writes Brian Hennessy/Equestrian PR Services

Reigning champion Francis Connors dominated the opening round of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix League on home soil at Ballylawn in Co Waterford on Bank Holiday Monday, filling the top two places.

Connors, who has won the series for the last three years, picked up where he left off in 2015, collecting the winners prize at Ballylawn with Uskerty Diamond Lady. Eleven-year-old Uskerty Diamond Lady, who is owned by Hilda Anthony, won six rounds of the Connolly’s RED MILLS sponsored league last year and proved unbeatable again when posting the fastest double clear round in 41.83 seconds.

Connors also took runner-up spot aboard the Ian Smyth-owned Capitol Cruis, just over a tenth of a second off the winning time. Dungarvan Young Rider Nicolas Connors slotted into third after a brilliant round with the Ann Connors-owned Lantino 31, while Tallow’s Paul Beecher finished fourth with Danqu.

Michael Pender and Z7 Cordanos V finished fifth, while Tadhg Beecher completed the top six aboard Loughnatousa Sheldon after a 10 horse jump-off.

The second round of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix League will take place at Kingdom County Show in Tralee this Sunday May 8th.

Result - Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix League – Ballylawn Co Waterford 02/05/2016
1st Francis Connors/Uskerty Diamond Lady 0/0 41.83
2nd Francis Connors/Capitol Cruis 0/0 41.96
3rd Nicolas Connors/Lantino 31 0/0 42.45
4th Paul Beecher/Danqu 0/0 43.44
5th Michael Pender/Z7 Cordanos V 0/0 44.27
6th Tadhg Beecher/Loughnatousa Sheldon 0/0 48.99
30 Starters
10 into jump-off