EDDIE MOLONEY LANDS FINAL ROUND OF SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND PREMIER SERIES AS
PAUL O SHEA IS CROWNED OVERALL LEAGUE WINNER

Newly crowned National Show jumping Champion Eddie Moloney continued his rich vein of form when landing the final round of the TRM ShowjumpingIreland Premier Series at Ennis Showgrounds in Co Clare on Sunday last (August 29th).

Riding his own Voltaire sired chestnut gelding ‘’SlIeveanorra’’, Moloney grabbed the lions share of the generous €15,000 on offer from sponsors Allmon Contractors & Tobin Sand and Gravel with almost a second in hand over runner up John Floody and the ever consistent ‘’Larkhill Cruiser’’ who was named leading horse of the series.

Stephaine Finetto was almost three seconds slower than Floody with ‘'Heracross’' but leaving all poles intact saw them well placed at the finish in third, indeed she finished ahead of her tutor Francis Connors who slotted Westwinds Cirracruise into fourth.

Joan Greene recorded one of the fastest times of the day with ''Biscaya D’Eversem'' but a fence on the floor saw them finish in fifth just ahead of last weekend’s Limerick Grand Prix winner Greg Broderick who was aboard ‘’Mrs Quinn’’.

The overall Premier Series title was secured by Paul O Shea, the Limerick born rider has been ultra consistent throughout the season and another top ten finish at Ennis, this time riding ‘’Realman RH’’ saw him comfortably over the finish line. Indeed with time running out for his nearest challengers Francis Connors and Tholm Keane, O Shea could also be crowned TRM National Grand Prix League Champion in the coming weeks.
 
Results -  ShowjumpingIreland Premier Grand Prix Series Final
Ennis Co Clare, Sunday August 29th  2010.
Overall Series Winner : Paul O'Shea.
1) Eddie Moloney, Slieveanora, Faults 0/0 Time 40.69
2) John Floody, Larkhill Cruiser, 0/0, 41..65
3) Stephanie Finetto, Heracross, 0/0, 44.56
4) Francis Connors,Westwinds Cirracruise, 0/0, 45.71
5) Joan Greene, Biscaya D'Eversem, 0/4, 42.73
6) Greg Broderick, Mrs Quinn, 0/4, 43.11
7) Paul O Shea, Realman-Rh, 0/4, 43.79
8) Stephanie Finetto, Merlins Magic, 0/4, 44.96
9) Sinead Kennedy, KEC Alligator Alley, 0/5, 59.45
10) Clem McMahon, Minnie Clover, 0/8, 47.35

JONATHAN GORDON CLAIMS EUROPE'S RICHEST YOUNG RIDER PRIZE

SIXTEEN Year Old Jonathan Gordon today claimed the biggest win of his career when taking the much anticipated €8,000 Pegus Horse Feed Young Rider Development League Final at the National Young Rider Championships at Barnadown this afternoon.

One of Europe's richest Young Rider prizes, the coveted title went west of the Shannon for the first time when the Mayo rider arrived in last to go in the three round competition on Leo Carey's impressive Mt Cruise.

With 12 going through to the second round, the class began to hot up, however, it was looking increasingly likely that a third round would not be needed as Robert Harrison remained as the only clear round with three riders to go.  All those riders, Hayley Dunne, Vincent Byrne and the eventual winner Jonathan Gordon produced foot perfect clear rounds to force the competition to the final round.

Harrison was first to go, and appeared to be on his way to another clear when taking the back bar of the very wide (1.60m) triple bar which was the third last.  They remained on the four faults over the final two obstacles to stop the clock in 42.80 to go into provisional pole position.

Second in was Maynooth based Hayley Dunne and she too looked set to produced a tough target but it went wrong for her and T D'Arco when hitting the final two fences to finish on 8 faults in a time of 46.70.

The pressure was then placed firmly onto Vincent Byrne's shoulders when he entered the arena with his mother Eleanor's Cordonos.  They went on to produce a fantastic round to be the first treble clear round of the competition in 46.04 and they left it all down to the final combination of Jonathan Gordon and Mt Cruise.

However, for Gordon the pressure was not enough to deter the young Mayo rider as he started at strong gallop that never broke the whole.  Jumping in over the second last they pushed on for the final fence and landed clear much to the delight of the crowd. 

Gordon is now the third winner of this prestigious class with the prize fund kindly put forward by David Stone of Pegus Horse Feed.

Following the class, Jonathan Gordon commented on his delight at winning the class; ''Im delighted, this is the biggest win I have had.''

''I have been working with Olive Clarke for the last couple of months and she has been a massive influence on me and I have to thank her a lot for all her help and to David Scally also.  The owner bred the horse and my dad produced him from a 4 year old before I took over the ride last year so they are delighted also.''

He finished by saying; ''Im just speechless, I must thank the sponsors, Pegus Horse Feed, as sponsors are hard to come by and this is a fantastic opportunity for us.'''

Following the class, Managing Director of Pegus Horse Feed, David Stone said;''Jonathan was a fantastic winner, this was a great class and we are delighted to be associated with it.''

RESULT: PEGUS HORSE FEED YOUNG RIDER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE FINAL
Saturday August 21st 2010
1st Jonathan Gordon on Mt Cruise (Leo Carey) 0/0/0 39.35
2nd Vincent Byrne on Cordonos (Eleanor Byrne) 0/0/0 46.04
3rd Robert Harrison on Cruise Touch (David Harrison) 0/0/4 42.80
4th Hayley Dunne on T D'Arco (Deirdre Dunne) 0/0/8 46.70
5th Michael Duffy on Ali G (Liam Cawley) 0/4 56.04
6th Vincent Byrne on Jays Lad (James Weldon) 0/4 61.79

EDDIE MOLONEY CROWNED 2010 SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND NATIONAL CHAMPION

Eddie Moloney finished out this week by being crowned the ShowjumpingIreland National Champion with his own Slieveanorra.

The concluding Grand Prix in the annual National Grand Prix Championship was a tough affair that yielded just two clears from the 33 that started.  Ten then went forward to the second round as per the conditions of the class with Eddie Moloney and Nicola FitzGibbon being the only two clears from the first round.

At the start of the class, Alexander Butler was in pole position with John Higgins's Keeford Topcat however, they faulted twice to knock them out of contention. 

Clears in the second round then came from Greg Broderick and Mrs Quinn which was closely followed by Dermott Lennon and Vampire however it was little too late as the final combinations entered the arena.

Edward Little appeared set to be one of the main contenders for the crown when recording a clear round and ensured him of at least 164.5 points to leave him in the top spot and added the pressure to the final combinations.  Of those Joan Greene added to the clears and put her into third place with a time of 52.47. 

It all then came down to the final combinations Nicola FitzGibbon and Eddie Moloney.  Although the National Championship Crown was out of sight for FitzGibbon, the €20,000 on offer for the Grand Prix was still up for grabs.  The outgoing National champions did not disappoint when producing another fine double clear to put them into the lead.

All was then brought onto Moloney's shoulders with his own Slieveanorra.  Their clear round gave them the points needed to put them into the top position and crowned them National Champions for 2010 despite finishing second in today's Grand Prix and he collected €5,000 for the National Championship Title.

Following the class, Kilkenny based Moloney said with great joy; ''The horse was fantastic, he just keeps answering every question.  One like him makes my job so much easier, it is a pleasure to have the chance to ride one like him.''

He continued to by showing what it means to be National Champion; ''This means eveything to me.  He is only 8 so it probably didn't look likely at the start of the week but I am absolutely delighted.''

The Grand Prix concluded this year's running of the ShowjumpingIreland National Championships at Coilog Equestrian Centre.

RESULT - NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2010

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS - EDDIE MOLONEY & SLIEVEANORRA (EDDIE MOLONEY)

Grand Prix result
1 Nicola FitzGibbon on Puissance (Nicola FitzGibbon) 0/0 57.96
2 Eddie Moloney on Slieveanorra (Eddie Moloney) 0/0 60.52
3 Joan Greene on Biscaya D'Eversem (Tim O'Shea) 4/0 52.47
4 Edward Little on Kalvinretto (David Prentice BMW) 4/0 64.75
5 Dermott Lennon on Vampire (Sandra Lennon) 5/0 62.08
6 Alexander Butler on Will Wimble (Harold McGahern) 4/4 53.32

O'SHEA MOVES CLEAR AHEAD OF PREMIER SERIES FINAL

Paul O'Shea holds a 15 point lead going into the final leg of the 2010 ShowjumpingIreland Premier Series following his win at the South County Dublin Junior Hunt Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Skerries based rider steered Primo De Revel to victory in the €12,000 Brian Bagnall and Associates sponsored feature event.

Having been last to go of the 5 combinations through to the jump off, O'Shea landed the class with a blistering turn of foot on Michael Hayden's gelding to stop the clock in 43.77 to pip long time leader Edward Doyle and his wife Catherine's Flexing.  This was O'Shea second win with Primo De Revel in this year's Premier Series following their win in the opening leg at Louth County.  He now holds a 15 point lead over John Floody going into the Final leg at Co Clare on August 29th.

First to go in the jump off was Edward Doyle on the Cruising bred mare Flexing.  Doyle set the target and looked as if it was going to be very tough to beat until the final combination entered the arena.  Doyle's time of 44.72 left him lying in second place and he collected some more valuable points on the Series.

Scottie Barclay put his first points on the Premier Series Leaderboard with a third place on Vimminka.  They were just ahead of the first combination to record a clear in the first round, Stephanie Finetto and Heracros.

Trevor Breen recorded 4 faults in the jump off to slot into fifth place with Karen Swann's Adventure De Kannan.  Captain David O'Brien was the sixth clear in the first round but he went over the time allowed with Annestown and incurred a single fault to put him in sixth place.

The Final leg of the ShowjumpingIreland Premier Series takes place in Co Clare on August 28th and 29th.

South County Dublin Premier Grand Prix,
Sponsor Brian Bagnall and Assoc. €12,000.
1)Pau O Shea, Primo De Revel, 0/0/ 43.77
2)Edward Doyle, Flexing,0/0/ 44.72
3)Scottie Barclay, Vimminka, 0/0/ 45.54
4)Stephanie Finetto, Heracross, 0/0/ 46.72
5)Trevor Breen,Adventure De Kannan,0/4/ 44.41
6)Capt. David O Brien, Annestown, 1 first round.
7)Stephanie Finetto, Merlins Magic, 4
8)Paul O'Shea, Camiro De Haar Z, 4
9)Conor Swail, Peninsula Kheelan, 4
10)John Floody, Larkhill Cruiser, 4.

FLOODY TAKES SECOND WIN IN PREMIER SERIES IN A WEEK

MEATH rider John Floody claimed victory in the Grand Prix at the Ward Union two-star international Grand Prix in Tattersalls this afternoon (Sunday).

Riding Michael Smith's nine year-old Irish-bred gelding 'Larkhill Cruiser', Floody chalked up one of just three double clear rounds in the eight-horse jump-off, pipping Kildare's 22 year-old Nicola FitzGibbon and her bay gelding 'Puissance' to the post by just under one-and-a-half seconds.

Third place today went to Sweden's Stephanie Finetto, who was riding Francis Connors's former mount, the Highfort Stud-owned Irish gelding 'Merlins Magic'.  Finetto produced the final double clear round in the very competitive Grand Prix.

Former National Champion, Trevor Breen slotted into fourth with Adventure De Kannan.  In their only two previous starts, Breen took a second and a fifth and has since been travelling which included a trip to Hicksted for their Derby Show.  Karen Swann's gelding set the country a light last Autumn with several wins in the Autumn Grand Prix League and a win in the Cavan International Grand Prix.  They came closest to Floody's time in 36.42 but took the top pole of the last fence to drop them to fourth.

Paddy O'Donnell and Harristown Princess also took a shot at the eventual winners time but had the same fate as Breen.  He also got within the 37 seconds mark but also took the final fence in doing so.  Their time of 36.99 was good enough for fifth place on the day.

Twelve times National Grand Prix League Champion, Francis Connors remarkably put his first points on the leaderboard following his sixth place finish on Sunday with Alice Keogh's Westwinds Cirracruise.

SJI Premier Series - CSI 2* Tattersalls
Sponsored by Jem Construction
1 John Floody/Larkhill Cruiser 0/0 36.30
2 Nicola FitzGibbon/Puissance 0/0 37.71
3 Stephanie Finetto/Merlins Magic (SWE) 0/0
4 Trever Breen/Adventure De Kannan 0/4
5 Paddy O'Donnell/Harristown Princess 0/4
6 Francis Connors/Westwinds Cirracruise 0/4.
7. Edward Little/Kalvinretto
8. Edward Doyle/Clipper Vd Begijnakker
9 Alexander Butler/Keeford Topcat 1/-
10 Dermott Lennon/Vampire 4/-

FLOODY CRUISES TO VICTORY AT NATIONAL BALMORAL

John Floody collected his first win in the ShowjumpingIreland Premier Series today when taking the top spot in the National Balmoral Leg of the league in the Stonebridge Horse Feeds sponsored class.

Riding Michael Smith Cruising gelding, Floody recorded the quickest time of the 11 combinations who made it through to the deciding round with a time of 36.89.  Floody has recorded several wins in Premier Series Qualifying rounds over the last two years, which also included a win at the World Breeders Championships in Lanaken when Larkhill Cruiser was a seven year old.  The pair were also winners of the 7 Year Old Championship at the ShowjumpingIreland National Horse Championships in 2008.

Following the class Newgrange based Floody commented; ‘’The horse has been very consistent all season and is in great form.  This was a fantastic win’’. 

Current Premier Series League leader Paul O’Shea took second and made his title bid stronger collecting 8 more points onto his ever growing tally.  O’Shea is now on 46 points with his nearest rival lying in the shape of today’s winner, Floody, who is now on 30 points.  O’Shea steered Phyllis Agnew’s Realman into second with a double clear stopping the clock in 37.21.

Tuesday’s winner of the Qualifying class Conor Swail slotted into third with Vanessa Mannix’s Coulthard 2.  Swail took the Qualifying round with Peninsula Kheelan and the same combination recorded the fastest time with a fence on the floor today to take 7th.  A double clear with Mannix’s Coulthard 2 in a time of 38.09 was good enough for them to take third today.

Having been on the recent winning team on the Meydan Series in Aachen, Dermott Lennon returned home to take fourth with his wife Sandra’s Vampire.  Already winners on the Series, Lennon and the Andiamo sired gelding collected maximum points early in the league at Coilog and they add 6 points to their total having recorded a time of 38.41 and clear.

Others who have been on International duty recently, Joan Greene and Edward Little, took fifth and sixth following their stint in Scandinavia where they won the Nations Cup of Finland.  Greene brought Tim O’Shea’s Biscaya E’Eversem to Belfast and took fifth just over one second clear of Little with Kalvinretto who were winners last week at Ballina.

The ShowjumpingIreland Premier Series continues this weekend where the action moves to Tattersalls for the CSI 2* International Show at the Meath venue.  The highlight there for the weekend will be Sunday’s Grand Prix which forms part of the Premier Series.
 
ShowjumpingIreland Premier Series Grand Prix - National Balmoral
Sponsored by Stonebridge Horse Feeds
1 John Floody/Larkhill Cruiser (Michael Smith) 0/0 36.89
2 Paul O'Shea/Realman Rh (Phyllis Agnew) 0/0 37.21
3 Conor Swail/Coulthard 2 (Vanessa Mannix) 0/0 38.09
4 Dermott Lennon/Vampire (Sandra Lennon) 0/0 38.41
5 Joan Greene/Biscaya D'Eversem (Tim O'Shea) 0/0 40.41
6 Edward Little/Kalvinretto (David Prentice BMW) 0/0 41.42
7 Conor Swail/Peninsula Kheelan (O'Connor & Swail Stable) 0/4 35.99
= 8 Nicola FitzGibbon/Puissance (Nicola FitzGibbon) 0/4 38.63
= 8 Tholm Keane/Warrenstown You 2 (Ronan Tynan) 04 38.63
10 Edward Doyle/Clipper Vd Begijnakker (Catherine Doyle) 0/4 41.75

Cavalor Ireland National Horse Prize Winnings League

ShowjumpingIreland are delighted to announce Cavalor Ireland as Sponsors of the inaugural National Horse Prize Winnings League.