For the second week running Ballindine’s young rider sensation Eric Glynn stole the headlines by winning the Claregalway McDonald’s Drive Thru Grand Prix on Sunday in superb style.

Glynn was riding Retiro Van W – which he jumped to sixth in a National Grand Prix event in Limerick last week - on Sunday and having secured a place with 18 others in the jump off from a starting field of 56, he set about a clear round determined to shave as much as possible off the clock in the process.

The circuit was challenging at the Duffy’s Equestrian Centre venue and breaking 40 seconds was always going to be a huge obstacle. Glynn got closest with a clear round in 40.80 that set a daunting target for all comers.

Sligo’s Richard Kerins certainly wasn’t fazed and jumped brilliantly to secure his highest finish of the season so far on Steinburg with a well-earned second place in 42.48. He also came home sixth in the event on Verdi in 52.36.

The battle for the overall title remains in the balance. Third place Olive Clarke didn’t compete this weekend while both Carl Hanley and Ballinasloe’s Damien Griffin had fences down in the jump off on their leading horses in the overall horse/rider combination standings, although Griffin’s time was enough to gain two points after finishing in ninth place.

Griffin and Lissy Egan Clover Diamond are now just eight points back from Hanley and Kalipso du Marais but both riders will look at Sunday’s event as a missed opportunity.

Oranmore’s Clarke is 12 points behind in third and jumping superbly well on the national scene after a fine third place finish in Saturday’s National Grand Prix event in county Meath. She is still in the running ahead of the Crossmolina show next Saturday and the final two rounds in Claremorris later this month.