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Sunday, September 05, 2010
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| DISAPOINTED AFTER KNOCKING A FENCE AT THE WEEKEND? SPARE A THOUGHT FOR GERMANY’S MARCO KUTSCER We all know the feeling, the thought of what if’s after you see that fence falling, well it could be worse. Spare a thought for Germany’s Marco Kutscher who was in action at the Global Champions Tour final at Rio in Brazil at the weekend. He only needed to finish Saturdays Grand Prix higher than 24th place to be sure of winning the €300,000 bonus for leading rider regardless of whoever won the Grand Prix. Agonisingly when the last fence fell for Marco Kutscher at Rio late on Saturday night it was effectively the most expensive rail in show jump history. Marco could still have taken the huge purse if fellow countryman Marcus Ehning finished outside the top three but of course Ehning went on to win the competition taking the €300,000 leading rider prize, €100,000 for winning the Grand Prix and diesel money of €63,130 from the other competitions at Rio during the weekend giving him a total of 463'130 Euro. Not bad for a weekends work. What’s that about Show jumping being a cruel sport? Marco Kutscher certainly won’t need reminding for some weeks ahead I’m sure. Marcus Ehning, the Final numbers 1. In Rio he won 463'130 Euro 2. During the 2010 GCT season he has won 552'266 Euro 3. He has competed at all nine GCT shows this year. 4. He has ridden three different horses, each of which has done three show. 5. Plot Blue, Sabrina and Noltes Kuchengirl were the horses concerned, the latter winning over 100'000Euro alone. 6. In Rio, he only had one fence down all weekend. 7. If Marcus Ehning had been 1.5 seconds slower, he would have finished fourth and the title would have gone to Marco Kutscher. | | |
| TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE FRANCIS CONNORS UP’S THE ANTE WITH WIN AT CHARLEVILLE If reigning champion Francis Connors goes on to win his twelfth National Grand Prix title later this year, he may well look back on the weekend just past (June 26th & 27th) as the turning point of the season. After picking up valuable points when finishing third in Saturday’s round at West Clare, the Waterford native moved up a gear at Charleville Show in Co Cork by filling the top two places on the podium. Seven of the twenty one starters managed to jump fault free in the first round with Thurles born Greg Broderick, league leader Paul O Shea and Francis Connors, all managing to be double handed in the clock round. Having finished runner up the day before at West Clare, Broderick seems to have run into good form but one fence down with both ‘Mrs Quinn’ and ‘Ballypatrick Flight’ cost the Tipp rider his shot at glory but he still picked up a good share of the 7,000 euro on offer from sponsors Charleville Show, when finishing in fifth and sixth places. Limerick’s Paul O Shea who is set to leave Ireland at the end of 2010 for a new challenge riding in the United States, looks like being in with a real chance of winning the National League before he departs and added to his points total with a fourth place finish aboard Castlefield Eclipse and also filled 7th spot with Day Dream St Ghyvan Z. The only lady rider to make it into the jump off was Anne Marie Fitzpatrick and she was fault free again against the clock with ‘Finders Keepers’ to finish an excellent third place at the finish. However the day belonged to the Waterford rider who has almost taken sole ownership of the National Grand Prix title, his winning double clear round with ‘Westwinds Cirracruise’ in 38.60 seconds was comfortably ahead of the nearest challenger who ironically was Connors himself with ‘Lundy Lad’. It could hardly have been a more punishing weekend for Tholm Keane however, having held the lead on the league table before heading away on International duty, Keane now finds himself slipping to third place after his two nearest challengers O’Shea and Connors both won a round each this weekend. TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE ROUND 10 SUNDAY JUNE 27th 2010. SPONSORED BY CHARLEVILLE SHOW FULL RESULT 1. Francis Connors, Westwinds Cirracruise ; C/C 38.60 2. Francis Connors, Lundy Lad ; C/C 40.21 3. Anne Marie Fitzpatrick, Finders Keepers 2 ; C/C 44.05 4. Paul O Shea, Castlefield Eclipise ; C/C 52.62 5. Greg Broderick, Mrs Quinn ; C/4 39.69 6. Greg Broderick, Ballypatrick Flight ; C/4 45.26 7. Paul O Shea, Day Dream St Ghyvan Z ; C/4 56.59 8. Mark O Sullivan, Amigo ; 4/ 83.00 9. Francis Connors, Lismore Coasting ; 4/ 83.10 10. Seamus Hayes, Twister ; 4/ 85.53 21 Starters 7 Through to Jump-Off TRM National Grand Prix League standings following Charleville. 1. Paul O Shea 43 points 2. Francis Connors 41 points 3. Tholm Keane 33 points | | |
| TIPP'S BREEN BROTHERS HELP IRELAND FINISH JOINT FOURTH IN PORTUGUESE NATIONS' CUP SITTING in third place at the halfway mark, Ireland's show jumping team at the four star Portuguese Nations' Cup in Lisbon today (Sunday) slipped marginally to joint fourth of 12 teams after the final round. Tipperary-born Shane Breen celebrated the third consecutive double clear round of his first three Nations' Cups of 2010, the previous competitions being at Lummen, Belgium (four star) and La Baule, France (five star). Riding the Irish-bred 'Mullaghdrin Gold Rain' at Lisbon, anchorman Breen added his zero score to Dave Quigley's opening clear with 'Ulot'. Brother Trevor Breen had a single mistake in both rounds with 'Adventure de Kannan', while Shane Sweetnam and 'Zamiro' faulted three times first time out and did not jump in the second round. Ireland finished on 12 faults, equal with Switzerland and Belgium, while the trophy was won by a talented Netherlands side who recorded just one time fault over two rounds. SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI4* LISBON PORTUGAL MAY 27-30 2010 NATIONS CUP OF PORTUGAL
Two Rounds (Art 264 FEI )
1m60
Sunday, May 30, 2010 1) NETHERLANDS 1
2) GT. BRITAIN 8
3) ITALY 9
=4) IRELAND 12
Shane Sweetnam; Zamiro 16 12/-
David Quigley; Ulot 0/4
Trevor Breen; Adventure de Kannan 4/4
Shane Breen; Mullaghdrin Gold Rain 0/0
=4) SWITZERLAND 12
=4) BELGIUM 12
7) PORTUGAL 22
8) FRANCE 24 12 nations competed 45 starters | | |
| TIPP'S LYNCH WINS GERMAN JUMP OFF CONTINUING his recent run of good form, Tipperary's Denis Lynch chalked up another victory today (Saturday) when he won the big jump-off class at Norten Hardenburg in Germany. Riding Flaminia Straumann's 15 year-old bay gelding 'Lacroix', Lynch outpaced Dutch challenger Jeroen Dubbledam by just under one-and-a-half seconds in the 14 horse jump-off to collect 6,600 euro in prize money. Last weekend, the 34 year-old Irish rider won the Grand Prix at Wiesbaden, Germany, and will also be a contender for Sunday's 50,000 euro Grand Prix at Norten-Hardenberg. SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI3* NORTEN-HARDENBERG GERMANY MAY 27-30 2010 Norten-Hardenberg Championship
International Jumping Competition
Qualifier for Masters League Finale
Table A With Jump Off (Art 238.2.2)
1m50
Saturady, May 29, 2010 1) Lacroix; Denis Lynch (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 36.07
2) BMC Van Grunsven Simon; Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 37.35
3) Allerdings; Marco Kutscher (GER) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 38.15 46 starters | | |
| LYNCH WINS WIESBADEN GRAND PRIX QUALIFIER AFTER 600KM DASH IRELAND'S Denis Lynch made a 600 km dash to win today's (Sunday) show jumping Grand Prix Qualifier at Wiesbaden in Germany. Having competed at the Global Champions Tour show in Turin, Italy, on Saturday afternoon, the Tipperary-born rider flew immediately to the four-star German venue, where he had two horses waiting for him this morning. And it was Flaminia Straumann's ten year-old gelding 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof' who produced a 7,500 euro victory for the irish rider this afternoon with a double clear round in the important qualifier, which saw 14 combinations through to the jump-off. Lynch, who has just turned 34, will now be well-placed in the jumping order for the 70,000 euro Wiesbaden Grand Prix, which takes place tomorrow on Europe's Whit Monday bank holiday. SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI4* WIESBADEN GERMANY MAY 20-24 2010 Grand Prix Qualifier
International Jumping Competition
Table A with Jump off (Art 238.2.2)
1m50
Sunday, May 23, 2010 1) Abbervail van het Dingeshof; Denis Lynch (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 43.82
2) Cevo Socrates; Edwina Alexander (AUS) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 45.70
3) Equimax Ocolado; Ellen Whitaker (GBR) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 45.79 52 starters | | |
| DOUBLE CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION AS SHANE BREEN AND WATERFORD STALLION ADD GRAND PRIX TO NATIONS CUP TRIUMPH, AT HOME THOLM KEANE WINS OPENING NATIONAL GRAND PRIX It proved to be an incredible weekend for Tipperary and Waterford Show jumping at home and abroad as horses and riders from both Counties grabbed all the headlines. ’’ Carmena Z’’ who is owned and bred by Waterford couple Carmel and Dermott Ryan from Grange Park Road in the city produced some impressive displays over the past few seasons under the guidance of Tipperary’s Shane Breen, and earned his first cap on an Irish Nations Cup team towards the end of last year at Spruce Meadows in Canada. Carmena Z was one of three horses that Cashel born Breen brought to the 4 star Nations Cup show in Lummen Belgium last week but as he has been lightly campaigned so far this season he wasn’t expected to feature in the main classes at the show. However a last minute change of plans saw ‘Carmena Z’ line out as part of the four strong Irish team for last Friday’s Nations Cup which featured 13 of the world’s top ranked teams. .At the halfway stage, Australia and Ireland were tied for the lead and once again after the second round the two could not be separated with Cork's Billy Twomey, Tipperary town's Denis Lynch and Cashel's Shane Breen riding Carmena Z all jumping double clear rounds to leave the Irish and the Australian’s on zero faults. In a two way jump off against the clock to decide the winners, Cork's Billy Twomey and 'Tinka's Serenade' produced a fault-free round against Australia's four-faulting Chris Chugg and 'Vivant' to snatch a famous Nations Cup victory for Ireland Afterwards Ireland's Show Jumping Team Manager Robert Splaine said: "This was a top display from our riders, and to finish on a zero score was a great achievement. It was a tough competition, and the Australians fielded a very strong team. We were here to try out some new horses with the Meydan Series in mind, and the exercise was highly successful from that point of view." Just 48 hours later on Sunday afternoon last the Irish National Anthem sounded once again this time in the Belgian Grand Prix, which along with a 40,000 euro prize fund carried Rolex World Ranking points and was a qualifier for the World Equestrian Games later this year. Over an extremely tough course that yielded just 3 double clear rounds from 46 starters, it was the Grey stallion Carmena Z, born and raised here in Waterford that cruised to a comfortable 2 second victory for rider Shane Breen and owners Carmel and Dermott Ryan, in the process grabbing the headlines in the Equestrian media across Europe. To round off a remarkable weekend, Saturday’s Flanders Derby at Lummen, Belgium, when Dutch rider Henk van de Pol achieved the only clear round on the course, Tipperary’s Shane Breen was fastest of just two four-faulters to claim the 4,000 euro runner-up prize. Breen, riding Anatoly Pysarenko's Irish-bred chestnut gelding 'Dorada', was a substantial six seconds faster over the line than Belgium's Nick Motmans, whose third place would have gone to Ireland's Billy Twomey had the Cork rider not had a second pole down. Earlier in the week Denis Lynch finished 6th in the 1m 50 class at Lummen with ‘’Tarpan’’ while he also took third place in the 1m 45 with ‘’Lacroix’’, a former mount of Britain’s Robert Whitaker. AGLISH’S THOLM KEANE OFF TO THE PERFECT START AS T.R.M, SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE GETS UNDERWAY The Thomastown Horse Show hosted the opening leg of the TRM National Grand Prix League on Sunday last. Having turned this National competition into their own personal duel over the past three years, Waterford pair Tholm Keane and Francis Connors will again be out in force to take the title with Connors seeking his 12th and Keane his first. The tussle that ensued last year was one of the most exciting in several years with Keane taking four of the last six legs of the League including the final. However, Connors was consistently placed in the final legs of the league to narrowly edge out Keane once more. Thomastown’s opener on Sunday showed little has changed over the winter months as Aglish born Tholm Keane (who along with his wife Hilda, herself an accomplished Amateur rider , last week celebrated the birth of their first child ‘’Bronagh’’) secured top spot in the Grand Prix with the Ronan Tynan owned ‘’Warrenstown Well Aware’’. Second place went to Kerry’s Sinead Kennedy with Ger O Neill in third and defending Champion Francis Connors third with ‘’Lismore Coasting. Speaking last week, Keane and Connors were looking forward to the year ahead, Tholm Keane opened by saying: ‘’It’s the longest standing league in the country and I will be trying hard again to beat ‘Fra’. I will have four horses to aim for the National Grand Prix around the country with Warrenstown You 2, Warrenstown Well Aware, Walterstown Clover and Redmills Krafty Jack being my main horses.’’ Targeting a 12th Championship Title, Francis Connors had similar words of intent; ‘’we will be aiming for it anyway. I’ll be hoping to have another good run but it is a long year and hopefully I will be close at the finish. My horses so far are Lundy Lad, Lismore Coasting and Westwind Cirracruise who will also take in some of the Premier Series Grand Prix.’’ Raoul Masterson of new sponsors TRM commented; ‘’ ’TRM have a very close relationship with both Irish and International show jumpers. Sponsored riders include Cian O Connor, Conor Swail, David Blake, Pius Schwizer ( who reached FEI ranking no 1 this year), Steve Guerdat, and Alexander Zetterman. We are delighted to have the opportunity, in association with Showjumping Ireland, to be Title and Product Sponsors of the National Grand Prix League. Our customers in Ireland have helped us to become one of the biggest players in our industry sector, and we hope this repays in some small way their loyal custom.’’ SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI2*/4* LUMMEN BELGIUM APRIL 29 - MAY 2 2010 LUMMEN GRAND PRIX Table A - 2 rounds - FEI 273.3.3 Qual WEG 2010 and European Championship 2010 - Rolex Ranking Sunday, 2 May 2010 1) CARMENA Z; Shane BREEN (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 45.63 2) DYLANO; Maurice VAN ROOSBROECK (BEL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 47.50 3) L'ESPOIR; Geir GULLIKSEN (NOR) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 48.77 SHOW JUMPING RESULTS TRM SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE THOMASTOWN HORSE SHOW SUNDAY MAY 2nd 2010 1.Tholm Keane riding Ronan Tynan's Well Aware, 0/0 35.94 2. Sinead Kennedy riding William Kennedy's Kec Alicante 0/0 38.03 3. Ger O' Neill riding Ken Digby's I Caeser 0/0 38.94 4. Francis Connors riding Claire Mc Donnell's Lismore Coasting 0/0 41.71 5. Michael Hutchinson (YR) riding Una O' Gorman's Cullenagh Lucinda 0/4 44.26 6. Lisa O' Farrell riding Seamus Hutchinson's The Body Guard 0/8 46.34 SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI2*/4* LUMMEN BELGIUM APRIL 29 - MAY 2 2010 FEI Nations Cup of Belgium International Jumping Competition Table A 1m50 - 2 rounds 1) IRELAND 0 faults Denis Lynch; Abbervail van het Dingeshof 0/0 Alex Duffy; Tampa 22/- Shane Breen; Carmena Z 0/0 Billy Twomey; Tinka's Serenade 0/0/0 2) AUSTRALIA 4 faults 3) NORWAY 8 faults 4) FRANCE 12 faults 5) GERMANY 16 faults 6) SWEDEN 32 faults 7) GREAT BRITAIN 35 faults 8) BELGIUM 16/Elim 13 nations competed | | |
| WATERFORD'S PADDY O'DONNELL IN SPARKLING FORM AT ITALIAN INTERNATIONALS Waterford Show Jumper Paddy O Donnell proved he can mix it with the best of them with a series of top class performance over the past fortnight, when taking in two International shows in Italy. Just over a week ago the Fenor born rider made his first International appearance of the season at the 3 star show in Manerbio in Italy. He finished third of the sixty starters in the one meter forty competition, with the Irish bred twelve year old mare'' Harristown Princess'' who is owned by Tomas Power from Dunmore East Co Waterford. The same partnership went on to finish 5th in the bigger 1m 50 class at the same show. Just last weekend O Donnell was in action again in Italy this time at the 3 star show in Pioltello After finishing 5th in Friday's Grand Prix Qualifier again with ''Harristown Princess'', the Fenor rider went even better in last Saturday’s feature class at the Italian fixture when he finished second to Dutch rider Loepold Van Asten in the 1m 50 competition. | | |
| THOLM KEANE CROWNED OVERALL WINNER AS HUGE CROWD ATTEND WATERFORD AND TIPPERARY SHOW JUMPING AWARDS to view and purchase photographs from the awards night please click this link Co Waterford’s Tholm Keane was crowned ‘’Overall Award winner for 2009’’ at the annual Waterford and Tipperary Show jumping Awards on Saturday evening last at the Park Hotel in Dungarvan.  A huge crowd of over three hundred and fifty people packed into the main hall to see riders from the two counties honoured for their achievements from last season. Overall winner Tholm Keane received a rousing reception from all in attendance, as he accepted his award. The Aglish Co Waterford born rider began 2009 by retaining the Guidam Spring tour title for the second year after winning rounds at Broadmeadows and Boswell along with several top three placing’s. Tholm Keane then went on to finish in the top four on three occasions at the Balmoral International Show. After gaining selection for the International classes at the Dublin Horse Show, Keane steered the Ronan Tynan owned stallion ‘’ Warrenstown U2’’ to sixth place in the Welcome Stakes. This was followed by further success in the ShowjumpingIreland Premiere Series after which his season really moved up a gear. Tholm Keane won four rounds of the National Grand Prix League in a row as well as the final round of the league at Newcastle in Wicklow, on his way to finishing overall runner up for the third year in a row. DENIS LYNCH NAMED INTERNATIONAL RIDER OF THE YEAR The International rider of the year award went to Tipperary’s Denis Lynch who enjoyed an incredible year. Some of his top results included finishing 2nd in the Guicci Paris Masters and 5th overall in the Global Champions Tour final in Doha.  He made more senior Nations Cup appearances for Ireland last year than any other rider, including at the Dublin Horse Show where he jumped Ireland’s only clear round of the Aga Khan competition with the ever impressive ‘’Lantinus’’. The highlight of the year for Denis Lynch {who is now the number one ranked Irish rider in the world) was no doubt his win in the Aachen Grand Prix of Germany. This is without question the most prestigious competition on the Show jumping circuit each year and the Tipp rider who is based in Germany, became only the third Irish rider after Trevor Coyle and Eddie Macken to lift the Aachen trophy in front of 80.000 spectators. Cashel’s Trevor Breen was also among the senior award winners following his win in the Hickstead Speed Derby, while he also won many rounds of the Autumn Grand Prix League, finishing as overall runner up. Shane Breen was also among the senior award winners following his exploits in 2009 with his father John Breen from Dualla Road Cashel, accepting on his behalf. Thomas Lawlor from Lisroonagh in Clonmel was another rider who picked up a senior award having returned to the saddle after several years’ absence. Among the other Senior riders to pick up awards was Fenor’s Paddy O Donnell who had a great run of results in the Premiere Series with the Tomas Power owned mare ‘’Harristown Princess’’ and also finished runner up in the eight year olds and over competition at the RDS. ACHIEVEMENTS OF OWNERS AND BREEDERS ALSO RECOGNIZED The breeder of the year crown went for the second year in succession to Carmel and Dermott Ryan from Grange Park Road in Waterford City.  Owners and breeders of not one but two top horses who produced some incredible display’s last term. ‘’Royal Concorde’’ set a new course record in winning the Hamburg Speed Derby under the guidance of Tipperary rider Shane Breen. The same horse also holds the course record around the Hickstead speed derby course. Carmel and Dermot Ryan are also the Breeders of ‘’Carmena Z’’ and travelled to Spruce Meadows in Canada last year to see their stallion form part of the Irish Nations Cup team at the famous Calgary venue. ‘’Carmena Z’’ also finished runner up at the Athens Grand Prix in Greece. The owner of the year award went to Tipperary’s Sean Hayden,  owner of’’ Lundy Lad’’ who helped Francis Connors to a record eleventh National Grand Prix League and Munster Grand Prix league titles. AMATEUR,PONY AND YOUNG RIDERS HONOURED The evening began with the Pony riders who were each presented with awards by Chairman of the Waterford and Tipperary Branch of ShowjumpingIreland, Noel Phelan. Between them, these riders who ranged from eight to sixteen years of age, won many competitions throughout the country including at the National Championships, Pony Owners Show in Millstreet, Munster Pony Leagues, The Carling King League and at the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show. Junior and Young Riders were also honoured for their excellent results along with Amateur riders who collected more than their fair share of wins during 2009. The overall Amateur Award was awarded jointly to Aileen O Connor and Hilda Keane after they both enjoyed spectacular seasons. GROOM, JUDGE AND SHOW OF THE YEAR The Show of the year award went to Thurles Show, while Fiona O Hagan (pictured)  picked up the Judges award for her hard work throughout the season. Themost difficult work and longest hours associated with the sport of Show Jumping is without doubt put in by the Grooms. Maura Kelly (groom to Francis Connors) and Sylvia Mangan (groom to Tholm Keane) were joint award winners for their tremendous care and attention in caring for the real stars of the sport. Comprehensive picture coverage of the awards here in the next few days!!!! | | |
| YET ANOTHER WINNING ADVENTURE FOR TREVOR BREEN
Tipperary Show jumper Trevor Breen made it two wins in a week when he landed the Botanica/ShowjumpingIreland Autumn Grand Prix at Portmore Equestrian Centre in Lisburn, Northern Ireland on Sunday night. Seven day’s ago the Cashel native landed the Cavan International Grand Prix with the Karen Swann owned Adventure De Kannan and in Portmore he rode the same horse to victory with over a second to spare after the jump off, ahead of David Prentice and Kalvinretto. Frank Curran aboard Pepp slotted in to third place while Trevor Breen made sure he grabbed a large portion of the 3,000 euro on offer by also finishing in fourth place with M & P Coffey’s Old Town Katie. Linda Courtney was another who returned with a double clear round but a slow time left her in fifth overall, while Limerick’s Paul O Shea produced the second fastest time of the day with Day Dream St Ghyvan, but one fence on the floor dropped them to sixth place. This latest win for Trevor Breen sees him move back to the top of the Botanicia/ ShowJumpingIreland Autumn Grand Prix League table, overtaking Conor Swail who must now make the most of the remaining two rounds of the league at Kill International Equestrian Centre on November 22nd and Kildare International on December 6th if he is to deny Breen, who must now be favourite to be crowned Autumn Grand Prix League champion. Full results, Botanica/ShowjumpingIreland Autumn Grand Prix league - Portmore. Sunday November 15th
1. Trevor Breen, Karen Swann, Adventure De Kannan 0/0 26.52
2. Edward Little, David Prentice's Kalvinretto, 0/0 27.56
3. Frank Curran, John Curran's, Pepp, 0/0 28.90
4. Trevor Breen, M& P Coffey's Oldtown Katie 0/0 29.15
5. Linda Courtney, H Two 0/0 37.35
6. Paul O' Shea, Paul Clarkes and Michael Walshe's Day Dream St Ghyvan Z 0/4 26.62
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| TREVOR BREEN WINS CAVAN INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX
Tipperary’s Trevor Breen (pictured) scored his second International win of the season on Sunday night last by scooping the Cavan International Grand Prix against a top class field. In a further boost for the county, Breen’s latest win was achieved aboard fellow Cashel native Karen Swann’s nine year old gelding Adventure De Kannan. This partnership secured the Hickstead Speed Derby earlier this year, and have been consistently among the prizes in the ShowjumpingIreland Autumn Grand Prix League the past few weeks. Speaking after the class which carried a prize fund of 8,000 euro Breen was suitably delighted, ‘’this was a brilliant competition to win, I had watched a few riders rounds ahead of me in the jump off and to be honest I didn’t think Alexander Butlers time could be beaten, but I think I made up some time on the turn from fences two to three. The horse (Adventure De Kannan) jumped brilliantly for me tonight just as he has all season, I am delighted for his owner Karen Swann who lives just up the road from me in Cashel’’ Indeed the splendid Cavan Equestrian Centre has proved a happy hunting ground for the above mentioned partnership having won both rounds of the Autumn Grand Prix League held at the venue this season and now adding an International Grand Prix win to their growing list of achievements. | | |
| Botanica/ShowjumpingIreland Autumn Grand Prix League. Cavan EC 18/10/09 Fourth Round TREVOR BREEN WINS AGAIN
Trevor Breen recorded his second win tonight (Sunday) in the Botanica/ShowjumpingIreland Autumn Grand Prix League at the Cavan Equestrian Centre. Riding the ultra consistant Karen Swan owned Adventure De Kannan, Breen beat off the chalange of a high class field to grab all ten points with Conor Swail on board Norman Allens' Carra Touche finishing as runner up. FULL RESULTS Place Horse Owner Rider Sire Dam Flts Time
1st. Adventure De Kannan, Karen Swann, Trevor Breen Kannan, Adermie 0/0 38.82
2nd. Cara Touche, Norman Allen, Conor Swail, Touchdown Cara Pandora 0/0 39.59
3rd. Keeford Topcat John Higgins Senior Alexander Butler, Ringfort Tinkatoo, Keeford Cruising Home, 0/0 39.98
4th. Larkhill Cruiser Michael Smith John Floody Cruising Dunadry Lady 0/0 41.12
5th Kalvinretto David Prentice B M W Edward Little Kildare Conmiretto Z 0/0 43.11
6th Hallmark Elite J W Rosbotham Dermott Lennon Lord Byron Z Her Majesty (Easy Touch) 0/0 49.67
SHANE BREEN AND DORADA WIN FRENCH TWO PHASE Meanwhile having claimed the runner up spot yesterday in the speed competition at Saint Lo in France, Shane Breen and Dorada went one better today (Sunday), by winning the 1m 45 two phase, just ahead of French rider Jerome Hurel. Meanwhile in the show finale Grand Prix, Dave Quigley completed a good weekend for the Irish finishing in second place with Ulot. SECOND PLACE FOR BREEN IN FRENCH SPEED CLASS Shane Breen kept up his recent excellent run of form when finishing in second place tonight, (Saturday) in the speed class at the CSI3* show in Saint Lo, France.  Riding the Harlequin sired gelding ''Dorada'', Breen finihed just over half a second behind Belgian winner Gregory Wathelet and Rhea Du Charmoie. Just over a week ago Breen and Dorada scored a win in another speed class, this time at at the Horse of The Year Show in Birmingham.
SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI3* SAINT LO FRANCE OCTOBER 16 - 18 2009
PRIX AMD AUTOMOBILES
International Jumping Competition
Table A Art 238.2.1 1m40
Saturday, 17th October 2009
1) RHEA DU CHARMOIE; GREGORY WATHELET (BEL) Faults 0.00 Time 50.77
2) DORADA; SHANE BREEN (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 51.25
3) JOYAU D'ELLE; ALEXIS GAUTIER (FRA) Faults 0.00 Time 52.23
58 starters
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| NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL FOR WATERFORD RIDER
Co Waterford Show jumper Paddy O Donnell has agreed a new sponsorship deal with ‘’The Uluru Bar’’ on the Dunmore Road in Waterford City.
Twenty three year old Paddy from Killfarrasay in Fenor was in 2007 crowned leading young rider at the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show. Several top ten placing’s followed in senior Grand Prix competitions before O Donnell and Harristown Princess claimed their first Grand Prix win at the Iverk Show in Piltown in 2008.
‘’That first Grand Prix win was something special, I have come close to winning another on a few occasions since and hopefully I can add a few more in the future’’ commented O Donnell this week.
‘’I am also delighted to have a fantastic new sponsor onboard in John Brennan from The Uluru Bar on the Dunmore Road in Waterford. As in all sports sponsorship is vital and I hope the travel to some International Shows next year along with the National leagues at home’’.
Back in August of this year O’ Donnell and Harristown Princess finished runner up in the prestigious eight year old and over class at the Dublin Horse show and also featured amongst the prizes at several rounds of the ShowjumpingIreland Premiere Series. After a tremendous 2009 season behind him, the Uluru Bar sponsored Paddy O Donnell, is already looing forward to 2010.
SHOWJUMPING IRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE – KEANE WINS FINAL ROUND BUT LEAGUE TITLE GOES TO CONNORS FOR THE ELEVENTH TIME. The final round of the ShowjumpingIreland National Grand Prix League at Newcastle Show in Co Wicklow provided the perfect conclusion to another splendid season of outdoor Show jumping with Waterford’s Francis Connors eventually crowned league champion for the eleventh time, despite a brave challenge from fellow Waterford rider Tholm Keane. 
For the third year in succession these two riders battled it out on the final day of action with Keane hoping to make it third time lucky, having been pipped at the death in 2007 and again in 2008 by the relentless Connors. Having won the penultimate round at Iverk Show in Piltown a fortnight ago Connors was in the driving seat with an eleven point advantage over his nearest challenger Keane who himself was in a rich run of form having won four Grand Prix’s in a row before the Iverk round.
The mathematics were pretty simple before yesterday’s shoot out, Keane had to either win and hope Connors finished in no better than 8th place, alternatively Keane could still win the league if he finished in second place yesterday, and Connors finished outside the top ten.
To his immense credit Tholm Keane produced a superb performance, entering the arena as second last to jump he piloted the Ronan Tynan owned stallion, ‘Warrenstown U 2’ to an immaculate clear round in 39.75 seconds to take the lead.
Last to go was Francis Connors with Sean Hayden’s Lundy Lad and from the off the reining champion set off at speed hoping for a high placing but four faults mid round saw Tholm Keane win yesterday’s round to blow the league title wide open. Another fence down would have definitely cost Connors the championship, while Francis also had to keep one eye on the clock as he needed to finish ahead of Kilkenny’s Eddie Moloney who was lying in 7th spot. Connors crossed the finish beam with four faults in 41.38 seconds, just .44 of a second ahead of Moloney to take 7th place on the day but more importantly picking up three priceless league points to give the Kill native a record eleventh National Grand Prix League title along with the 6,000 euro purse for the leading rider.
A delighted Connor’s said afterwards ‘’ I am thrilled it’s over for another year. The horses have been going well throughout the season. I would like to thank all my owners for their support’’.
While Keane may have had to settle for the runner-up position on the league table, he can only be pleased with his incredible finish to the outdoor season that saw him win five of the last six competitions including Sunday’s €10,000 Bloxham Stockbrokers and Fund managers sponsored grand prix while he also collected €3000 for placing second on the league table, Ronan Tynan’s stallion, Warrenstown You 2 was also crowned the leading horse of the League
Speaking afterwards, Keane commented: “I was delighted with how the horse went today. I never mind losing to Francis. I knew I had to win and I delivered the best result today. The rest was in the lap of the Gods”.
This latest win completes a three in a row for Connors who has completely dominated the Irish National Grand Prix circuit for the last two decades. It is only when you see his achievements in black and white ink that you begin to appreciate the enormity of what the quietly spoken Woodstown born equestrian star has done since his first win almost two decades ago. The full list of former winners now reads as follows, 1990 F Connors,1991 F Connors,1992 F Connors,1993 F Connors,1994 F Connors, 1995 F Connors,1996 Marion Hughes,1997 F Connors,1998 Clem McMahon,1999 Tom Slattery, 2000 Tom Slattery,2001 Tom Slattery, 2002 F Connors, 2003 Peter Smith, 2004 Joint Winners Conor Swail & Shane Breen, 2005 Cian O Connor, 2006 Conor Swail, 2007 F Connors,2008 F Connors and now 2009 Francis Connors. You may notice ‘’Fra’’ began with five in a row in 1990. After registering three in a row following his latest triumph , what price for him to go on add to this in 2010!, pretty short I think. SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE FINAL ROUND – NEWCASTLE SHOW CO WICKLOW SUNDAY SEPT EMBER 27th SPONSORED BY BLOXHAM STOCKBROKERS 1. Tholm Keane – Warrenstown You 2 (Ronan Tynan) 0/0 39.75
2. Alexander Butler – Keeford Topcat (John Higgins snr) 0/0 40.26
3. Dermot Lennon – Hallmark Elite, (JW Rosbotham) 0/0 42.60
4. Edward Little –Kalvinretto, (David Prentice BMW) 0/0 44.55
5. Annemarie Fitzpatrick- Finders keepers ,( Harry Fitzpatrick) 0/0 47.58
6. Dermot Lennon - Tolett, (Allan Davidson) 0/0 48.23
7. Francis Connors- Lundy Lad, (Sean Hayden) 0/4 41.38
8. Eddie Moloney- Chatsworth Dan (John Mc Donald) 0/4 41.82 SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE 2009
OVERALL LEAGUE CHAMPION - FRANCIS CONNORS 88.5 POINTS
RUNNER UP -THOLM KEANE 88 POINTS
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| CONNORS CROWNED MUNSTER CHAMPION BUT KEANE CLOSES THE GAP IN THE BATTLE FOR NATIONAL TITLE BY BRIAN HENNESSY Waterford's Francis Connors was crowned Munster 'Greyhound Night' Grand Prix League champion for 2009 at the Banteer Show in Maryville Stables, Carrigaline Co Cork on Saturday last, forming part of a superb weekends action which attracted some of Ireland’s top equestrian stars to Co Cork. Heading into the final round Connors knew just one league point would guarantee him the title, but if he failed to do so, fellow Waterford rider Gemma Phelan was waiting in the wings to take advantage. A tough course designed by British visitor Peter Gillespie saw just nine of the fifty five starters through to the jump off. One notable absentee from the second round was last weeks Limerick Show winner Gemma Phelan who looked to be heading for the perfect round with her own ‘Killcannon Brigade’’ only to agonizingly suffer a refusal at the last fence to end any hopes she had of lifting the overall title. Another to exit on the four fault mark was Co Cork’s Sean Walsh with the Coolcoran Cool Diamond sired ‘Kimberlite’. League leader Connors had four horses entered but was out of luck with trio Westwinds Cirracruise, Cooldaragha Murphy and Lundy Lad who all picked up faults to rule them out of the jump-off. With the Hugh Fitzpatrick owned Erne Brigade, Francis Connors made no mistake jumping the perfect clear round to join eight other competitors in the deciding round. As league points are awarded down to tenth place this pushed the eleven times National Champion over the finish line regardless of his finishing position against the clock and it was no surprise when he retired in the jump off after picking up 4 faults safe in the knowledge that the 2009 Munster Grand Prix title was his along with a cheque for 5,000 euro. Victory in Saturday’s Grand Prix went to Northern Ireland visitor Jordan Coyle, who amazingly at just 16 years old, filled the first two places finishing first with ‘’Pirate’’ and second with ‘’Larco Gii’’ to take a large portion of the 4,000 euro on offer from Co sponsors ‘’Spy Coast Farms U.S.A’’, Munster region of ShowjumpingIreland and the S.J.I sports development fund. Kilkenny’s Lisa O Farrell finished in third with Tipperary’s Seamus Hayes in fourth. Part funded by the Munster Region of Show jumping Ireland through the generosity of contributors to a fundraiser at Cork greyhound Stadium last year, the aptly named Munster ‘Greyhound Night’ Grand Prix League has attracted the cream of the sport to show jumping venue's throughout Munster and a delighted Francis Connors paid tribute to the organizers afterwards, ‘’I’m delighted to win the league title, It has been another very successful Munster League as it helps riders to give horses the experience needed to step up to grand prix level, while it is also the perfect stepping stone for our young riders. I would like to thank the organizers and in particular to everyone who contributed to the Greyhound Night Fundraiser at Cork Greyhound Stadium. SHOWJUMPING IRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE, AT CAVAN AND CO CLARE Meanwhile the ShowjumpingIreland National Grand Prix League hosted a double bill of action over the weekend at Cavan and Co Clare Show’s. Waterford’s Francis Connors had looked to be strolling to a record 12th national league title having built up a healthy points advantage at the top of the table but an amazing run of results over the past eight days has saw his lead cut to just 5 points. Deise county colleague Tholm Keane took all ten points when winning at Boswell in Co Wicklow last weekend and continued his incredible run of form with a double of wins at Cavan on Saturday last and at Co Clare Show on Sunday. Indeed it was a Tholm Keane one- two in Cavan where he guided Warrenstown Well Aware to pole position and Walterstown Clover into second. A day later on Sunday Aglish born Keane, who has finished runner up in this series the past two years steered the Ronan Tynan owned Redmills Krafty Jack to his third win in a row, finishing just over a second ahead of Francis Connors and Lundy Lad at the Co Clare Show in Ennis. Keane also filled third and fourth places with Warrenstown U2 and Warrenstown Well Aware to scoop a large portion of the 4,000 euro on offer from sponsors Roche Pharmaceuticals. Ennis Show grounds were celebrating the official opening of recent redevelopments which include a new arena surface and surrounding services which cost close to four hundred thousand euro with local T.D and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture,fisheries and food Tony Killeen performing the official opening. Afterwards Keane had this to say, ‘’I thought a few weeks ago that the best I could hope for was to finish second behind Francis again this year, but these three wins in a row gives me a chance to maybe do a bit more than that, my horses seem to be coming good at the right time and we will head to the Iverk Show at Piltown on Thursday and hopefully my luck will continue’’. Captain David O Brien finished in 5th place with ‘’Mo Chroi’’ while Limerick’s Niamh O Connell was the highest placed young rider in 9th place with ‘’Notting Hill’’ This combination of results leaves the title wide open once again with Tholm Keane just five points behind Francis Connors ahead of this Thursday’s round at the Iverk Show in Piltown Co Killkeny after which just two more rounds of the National League will remain. | | |
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