ANOTHER INCREDIBLE WEEKEND FOR MUNSTER RIDERS

Billy Twomey and Je T'Aime Flamenco on their way to winning the €200,000 Swiss Grand Prix in St. Gallen

It has turned out to be a fantastic weekend for Munster born riders with superb display’s both at home and abroad. Top of the pile was Cork man Billy Twomey who saw off some of the world's top riders on Sunday when he snatched victory in the Swiss Grand Prix at St Gallen, with the only double clear round of the competition and collected 50,000 euro in prize money.

With the nine year-old stallion 'Je t'Aime Flamenco', the 32 year-old Cork-born rider was one of just three competitors to record a clear round first time out, and rode a careful second round to repeat his fault-free score, pipping Switzerland's Christina Liebherr to the trophy when she fell foul of her first-round single time fault.

Ironically Twomey was second in this very same Grand Prix in 2003 behind Horse Sport Ireland Team Manager Robert Splaine

Afterwards Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh congratulated Billy Twomey and said: "This was an outstanding victory in one of Europe's most important Grands Prix, and Billy was up against some of the world's most talented riders. It is also a phenomenal achievement for a nine year-old horse and augurs well for the Irish team in the future".

Meanwhile Tipperary’s Denis Lynch  collected the Leading Rider award at St. Gallen after a host of top ten finishes and a clear round in Friday’s Meydan Nations Cup.

O'CONNOR OFF THE MARK IN ST. GALLEN

Cian O'Connor and Baloufina (Left) took an early ribbon in the 1.40m Table A class at St.Gallen

Cian O'Connor has made a great start to the 5* Nations Cup Show at St.Gallen with a win and a second place in the opening two competitions at the Swiss venue.

The Kildare born rider started with a runner up slot on the speed specialist Baloufina in this morning's 1.40m Table A Speed competition.  He steered Dermot O'Rourke's Baloubet Du Rouet mare to cross the line in 54.51 just behind Roger Yves Bost riding Jovis de Ravel in 52.20.

However, it wasn't long before O'Connor got his head in front.  In the very next class, the 29 year old brought the Echo Syndicate's Irish Independent Echo Beach to a stunning victory in the 1.45m 2 Phase class.  They jumped a double clear round in 33.45 to take the win.  Captain David O'Brien also featured in the ribbons taking third place in this class with the Minister for Defence's Kiltoom in a jump off time of 34.18.

O'Connor said afterwards: "It's a great start to the show for me. Both mares tried their hearts out and a win at this level certainly goes down well."

Both O'Connor and O'Brien are part of the Irish squad ahead of tomorrow's third leg of the Meydan Nations Cup.

MUNSTER RIDERS DOMINATE NATIONS CUP SQUAD
By Munster Region PRO Brian Hennessy

Cian O'Connor (Left) and Complete rejoin the Irish squad in St. Gallen

After an improved performance at last weeks Meydan Nations Cup series in Rome HORSE Sport Ireland Team Manager Robert Splaine has announced the Irish squad for this Friday’s round of the elite competition at St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Once again the Munster province dominates the line up with 3 riders selected while Cian O'Connor and 'Complete' rejoin Ireland's squad for the Swiss clash, with Capt. David O'Brien having his first 2009 call-up with the Irish-bred 'Mo Chroi'.

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch will partner Lantinus, while Cork’s Shane Sweetnam who has been a dependable member of the team so far this season will chose either Amaretto d’Arco or Rolette on Friday. Fellow Cork rider Billy Twomey who was impressive in Rome when steering Je t’Aime Flamenco to seventh place in the Grand Prix, remains in the squad for St Gallen

Speaking this week Robert Splaine commented: "This is the third of the Meydan Series, which features the world's ten best teams, so competition will be as tough as one would expect. We made a slight improvement in Rome last week, and I will be looking for a further improvement in St. Gallen."

The squad, from whom a team of four will be selected is, in alphabetical order:
Denis Lynch; Lantinus
Capt. David O'Brien; Mo Chroi
Cian O'Connor; Complete
Shane Sweetnam; Amaretto d'Arco or Rolette
Billy Twomey; Je t'Aime Flamenco or KEC Maximum Joe

Standings following Rome

FINNETTO TAKES FIRST GRAND PRIX WIN ON IRISH SOIL

Swedish visitor Stephaine Finnetto claimed her first Grand Prix victory on Irish soil today (Sunday) claiming the lions share of the 4,500 euro prize fund on offer from sponsors Charleville Show, with the Highfort Stud owned Merlins Magic.

Just 4 of the 27 starters made it into the jump off although Horse Sport Ireland team manager Robert Splaine would have made it 5 but for picking up just one time fault in the first round with his own ''Billie Bob.

Reining National League champion Francis Connors was the only male rider of the quartet who made it through to the second round and for the second day in a row the Waterford man finished in runner up spot with Sean Hayden's Lundy Lad stopping the clock clear in 44.34 seconds.

Another Waterford rider Gemma Phelan has been a regular in the line up in the Munster Grand Prix league this season and steered her own Kilcannon Brigade to 3rd place at Charleville after a super double clear performance.
Stephaine Finnetto had the luxury of having two horses through to the jump off but 4 faults with Herracross saw this pairing finish in 4th place. But she made no mistake with her second mount Merlins Magic producing the perfect second round clear for a two second victory over her tutor Francis Connors who has moved to the top of the league standings after the weekends action.

SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX AT CHARLEVILLE CO CORK

FULL RESULT
1 STEPHAINE FINNETTO, MERLINS MAGIC 0/0 ; 42.13
2 FRANCIS CONNORS, LUNDY LAD 0/0 ; 44.34
3 GEMMA PHELAN, KILCANNON BRIGADE 0/0;  47.38
4 STEPHAINE FINNETTO , HERRACROSS 0/4 ; 51.10
5 ROBERT SPLAINE BILLIE BOB, 1/-  ; 82.85
6 PADDY O DONNELL HARRISTOWN PRINCESS, 4/ ; 66.98
7 THOLM KEANE, WARRENSTOWN U2 4/ ; 68.04
8 THOLM KEANE WALTERSTOWN CLOVER  4/   ; 68.80
9 THOLM KEANE REDMILLS KRAFTY JACK  4/  ; 69.07
10 SINEAD KENNEDY KEC ALICANTE  4/ ; 69.76

SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE WEST CLARE SHOWSATURDAY JUNE 27TH SPONSORED BY KILRUSH CREDIT UNION

Kilkenny's Eddie Moloney continued his good run of form in this year's ShowjumpingIreland National Grand Prix League by finishing in both 1st and 3rd place  at West Clare on Saturday.
Of the 27 horses and riders that went to post a healthy 15 made it through to the Jump off against the clock. Damien Griffin posted the fastest time in the jump off with Puissance specialist Lissyegan Clover Diamond but one fence on the floor saw him finish in 7th place.

Stephaine Finnetto opted for a steady second round with Herracross (35.64) leaving all poles intact for a 6th place finish. Both Lt  Michael Kelly (Major Chance) and Anne Marie Fitzpatrick (Finders Keepers 2) also produced double clears for 4th and 5th places respectively.

Just one second separated the top 3 finishers with Eddie Moloney and John Mc Donalds Chatsworth Dan taking third, stopping the clock in 32.40, while reining National League champion Francis Connors slotted Westwinds Cirracruise (31.68)  into second.

Victory in the Kilrush Credit Union class was well deserved by Eddie Moloney when he broke the finish beam in 31.51 seconds with the Nicola Flynn owned ''Highlander'' to take the lions share of the 7,000 euro on offer.

RESULT
1, EDDIE MOLONEY, HIGHLANDER; 0/0 31.51
2 FRANCIS CONNORS, WESTWINDS CIRRACRUISE; 0/0 31.68
3 EDDIE MOLONEY, CHATSWORTH DAN; 0/0 32.40
4 Lt MICHAEL KELLY, MAJOR CHANCE; 0/0 34.15
5 ANNE MARIE FITZPATRICK, FINDERS KEEPERS 2; 0/0 34.45
6 STEPHANIE FINNETTO, HERRACROSS 0/0 ;35.64
7 DAMIEN GRIFFIN, LISSYEGAN CLOVER DIAMOND; 0/4 30.05
8 CAPT SHANE CAREY, ANNESTOWN 0/4; 32.09
9 LISA O FARRELL, THE BODYGURARD; 0/4 32.27
10 THOLM KEANE, WARRENSTOWN WELL AWARE; 0/4 32.62

CONNORS REGISTERS FIRST NATIONAL GRAND PRIX WIN OF 09

Irish Show Jumping legend Francis Connors caused somewhat of an upset at the Galway County Show on Sunday when he took the sixth leg of the National Show Jumping league with a superb double clear on Lundy Lad.

Connors came home clear of a strong field with the leading riders in the overall standings all in his wake to take his first victory of this year’s league, on Sean Hayden’s composed and super quick horse, snatching the victory from young Mayo sensation Eric Glynn.

Out of a total of 58 entrants, eleven made it to the jump off at the Clarinbridge venue and the huge crowds gathered for what promised to be a thrilling finale to the two day show, held in perfect weather conditions.

The two young riders in the jump off went first with Eric Glynn setting a real target early on jumping clear again in 39.22 on his father Frank’s Retro Van W. Glynn. Jack Dodd from Ballina was the other young rider to reach the jump off and while he was desperately unlucky to have two fences down his overall effort was superb.

Glynn had already won the 1m20 class in the same arena earlier on Sunday and won a young rider bursary to crown a tremendous weekend for the in-form South Mayo challenger.

Ger O’Neill was perhaps the most unluckiest rider in Sunday’s show piece event. He ended eight in the final on Vincent Digby’s I Ceasar with four faults but it was just a clip on the last bar that prevented him from taking first overall with a rapidly quick time of 38.54. Heartbreak then for the talented O’Neil.

In the end Tholm Keane  on Warrenstown U2 came third with a time of 40.09 while Eddie Moloney took fourth on Chatsworth Dan in a time of 40.45.

The final round could not have been closer and the drama was maintained right to the  end with Connors jumping tenth and just edging out Glynn before local hero Olive Clarke kept the home crowd on tender hooks jumping a superb clear on John Melia’s The Butlers Spitfield Pantry but missing out on a podium finish with a time of 40.63 which left her fifth.

National Grand Prix League 6th Leg - Galway County Show Results. Sunday June 21

1, Sean Hayden’s Lundy Lad (Francis Connors)  0/0 38.57
2. Frank Glynn’s Retro Van W (Eric Glynn) 0/0 39.22
3. Ronan Tynan’s Warrenstown U2 (Tholm Keane) 0/0 40.09
4. John McDonald’s Chatsworth Dan (Eddie Moloney) 0/0 40.45
5. John Melia’s The Butlers Spitfield Pantry (Olive Clarke) 0/0 40.63
6. Sharon Walker’s Aly (Thomas Byrne) 0/0 41.76
7. Gemma Phelan’s Kilcannon Brigade (Gemma Phelan) 0/0 43.93
8. Vincent Digby’s I ceasar (Ger O’Neill) 0/4 38.54
9. Caroline Kileen’s De noble (Aidan Kileen) 0/4 41.55
10. Michael Duignan’s Starboard (Olive Clarke) 0/8 40.00

DRAIN CONTINUES WINNING FORM WITH LOUGHVIEW LOU LOU

Sixteen Year Old Conor Drain took the honours in the SJI National Grand Prix at Ballivor today (Sunday), on board Judith Sossicks seven -year -old Irish bred Loughview Lou Lou.  This combination have clocked up some impressive results, with numerous placing’s  in the HSI  Guidam  Spring Tour this year  and the  six -year -old  class in the national championship in Barnadown  last year.

Speaking afterwards, the winner commented:  I was delighted with how the horse went. I am just finished my exams so it was great to have this win. I am now focusing on the Junior Europeans which I will be competing in.
Drain also claimed the Pegus Horse Feeds Young Rider’s Development prize. This  League, in association with Tiffen Developments  will run through the National Grand Prix League and  will take in approximately 15 legs, with a final being held at the Pony and Young Rider National Championships. The league will be working towards a final which boasts one of Europe’s largest Young Rider prizes at the Young Rider National Championships in August.

In second place was local rider, Gary Quinn on board Mairead Ryan’s Recuerdame.  This eleven-year-old daughter of Harlequin Du Carel was the only clear in the first round, in the senior section.  “I am very please with this placing on home soil, the horse was out for eight months with an injury. She is back in form as she also qualified for Dublin in Barnadown last week as well”Quinn said.

A total of 4 combinations made it through to the jump-off in the €6000 Dixon Sand and Gravel sponsored class from a start list of 32. The junior rider’s where in fine form, with three of the riders from this section making it through to jump-off.

Enniskerry based, Lucy Murphy took third place on board Billy Daly’s Irish bred Newmarket Girl

RESULT SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE - BALLIVOR
1. Conor Drain on Loughview Lou Lou (Owner Judith Sossick) 0/4  29.97
2. Gary Quinn on Recuerdame (Mairead Ryan) 0/4  32.32
3. Lucy Murphy on Newmarket Girl (Billy Daly) 0/4 33.85
4. Robert Frazer on Rolando (Cyril Frazer) 0/8 33.61
5. Nicola Fitzgibbon on Looping Star  (Nicholas Fitzgibbon) 4/- 63.24
6. Edward Doyle on Flexing (Catherine Doyle) 4/- 67.06

O'SULLIVAN TAKES LOCAL WIN AT BALLINAMONA

Local rider Mark O Sullivan came out on top after a thrilling 14 horse jump off at Balinamona Co Waterford today (Saturday) which was sponsored by Cleaboy retail park.

With 26 combinations going to post over a testing Noel Phelan designed course it was testament to the quality that such a large number made it into the Jump off. Portuguese visitor Miguel Bravo was the early pace setter when clear in the clock round with Heritage Cashmere but was knocked off top spot almost immediately by Paddy O Donnell and Harristown Princess. Reining National Grand Prix Champion Francis Connors then went even quicker with Cooldaragha Murphy before Butlerstown Co Waterford born Mark O Sullivan produced the round of the day with the Michael Moynahin owned Amigo stopping the clock in 28.99 seconds.

Last to go Tholm Keane and Warrenstown You 2 looked to be heading to victory when up on the clock before coming a cropper at the penultimate fence to hand victory to a relieved Mark O Sullivan. who afterwards commented 'It was great to win especially here on home soil, the horse has been jumping well for me this season especially in the Munster Grand Prix League, long may it continue.

Full Result
1 Mark O Sullivan on Amigo (Owner Michael Monaghan) 0/0 28.99
2 Francis Connors on Cooldaragha Murphy (John Morrissey) 0/0 29.14
3 Paddy O Donnell on Harristown Princess (Thomas Power) 0/0 29.90
4 Miguel Bravo on Heritage Cashmere (Miguel Bravo) 0/0 31.08
5 Stephaine Finnetto on Merlins Magic (Highfort Stud) 0/0 32.43
6 Trevor Breen on Always Cullohill (James Costigan) 0/4 29.20

OLIVE CLARKE TAKES CLAREMORRIS PREMIER GRAND PRIX

Quality came ahead of quantity as 18 travelled to the Claremorris leg of the ShowjumpingIreland Premier Series.

It was Galway rider Olive Clarke who came out on top of the select field to take the honours in the €12,000 Grand Prix.

Riding Michael Duignan's Starboard, the Oranmore native was the fastest of 3 double clears in a time of 47.36 to take her first Premier Series.

Taking second is the reigning National Champion Trevor Breen. Riding James Costigan' Always Cullohill the pair recorded a double clear round in 48.46 which proved to be good enough for second.

Breen also had his other mount Adventure De Kannan into the Jump Off and stopped the clocks in 42.73 but with a fence down that left him in fourth place overall as the fastest of the four falters in the second round.

Warrington rider Eddie Moloney took some more points by finishing third on Chatsworth Dan. The John McDonald owned gelding took a double in a time of 48.81 to move Moloney up on the leader board.

RESULT SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND PREMIER SERIES 4th LEG - CLAREMORRIS

1st Olive Clarke on Starboard (Owner: Michael Duignan) 0/0 47.36
2nd Trevor Breen on Always Cullohill (James Costigan) 0/0 48.46
3rd Eddie Moloney on Chatsworth Dan (John McDonald) 0/0 48.81
4th Trevor Breen on Adventure De Kannan (Karen Swann) 0/4 42.73
5th Tholm Keane on Warrenstown You 2 (Ronan Tynan) 0/4 46.21
6th Olive Clarke on The Butlers Pantry Spitfield (John Melia) 0/4 49.27

BRASH WINS MULLINGAR INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX FOR SCOTLAND

Scottish rider, Scott Brash claimed victory in the €20,000 Premier Series in Mullingar International  Show today (Monday), with a double clear round in a time of 38.66 on  Liz Mc Taggart’s eight -year-old gelding  ‘Bon Ami’.  “It was worth taking the trip over, the last three days of jumping was very competitive and the standard was tough. The organisers put on a great show, you could see a lot of work went into it”, the winner said.

Francis Connors took the runner-up spot today with Sean Hayden’s Lundy Lad, and recorded the only other double clear round of the class. This son of Olympic Lux, was first to go in this two-way jump-off and put in an impressive round to deliver a double clear in 41.23. Speaking afterwards, Francis Connors commented, “I was delighted with the horse, this was a big class for him as he has very little experience at this level”.

Recent HSI Guidam Spring tour winner Tholm Keane riding Ronan Tynan’s  Warrenstown Well Aware slotted into third position, as the fastest faulter in the first round. Keane was heading for a clear, but a knock at the last oxer denied them their slot in the jump-off.

RESULT SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND PREMIER SERIES 3rd LEG - MULLINGAR INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX
1. Scott Brash Bon Ami (owner: Liz Mc Taggart) 0/0 38.66
2. Francis Connors Lundy Lad (Sean Hayden) 0/0 41.23
3. Tholm Keane Warrenstown Well Aware (Ronan Tynan) 4/  66.51
4. Migel Bravo HSS Fortuna (Migel Bravo) 4/ 66.91
5. Aidan Kileen Du Noble (Caroline Kileen) 4 67.52
6. Olive Clarke The Butlers Pantry Spitfield (John Melia) 4/ 68.39