LYNCH CLAIMS GERMAN GRAND PRIX VICTORY

IRELAND'S Denis Lynch claimed a 23,000 euro victory in this afternoon's (Monday) German Grand Prix at Wiesbaden, narrowly beating Germany's World No. 2 Marcus Ehning to the prize.

Thirty-four year-old Tipperary native Lynch had flown 600 km on Saturday night from the Global Champions Tour Show at Turin in Italy to make sure he could be eligible for the German competition, and did so with a first place in the Wiesbaden Grand Prix Qualifier on Sunday.

Riding Flaminia Straumann's ten year-old gelding 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof', Lynch repeated his sparkling form this afternoon and notched up his first Grand Prix victory of 2010 with a lead of less than a tenth of a second over challenger Ehning and 'Noltes Kuchengirl'.

Lynch is currently ranked 13th in the world, but points gained today should now lift him into the top ten on the leaderboard when next month's Rolex rankings are published.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI4* WIESBADEN GERMANY MAY 20-24 2010

Grand Prix Of Wiesbaden
International Jumping Competition
Table A with Two Rounds (Art 273.3.3)
1m55
Monday, May 24, 2010

1) Abbervail van het Dingeshof; Denis Lynch (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 48.50
2) Noltes Kuchengirl; Marcus Ehning (GER) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 48.58
3) Weldon D'O; Fukushima Daisuke (JPN) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 50.90

39 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

IRELAND FINISH SECOND IN BELGIAN CHILDREN'S NATIONS' CUP

The Irish Children On Horses show jumping team took the runner-up spot in today's (Sunday) Nations' Cup at Bonheiden in Belgium with a total of 14 faults on the score sheet, beating Belgium into third place by just one penalty point.

An in-form British team, however, took the trophy with a total of just five faults over the two rounds.

Ireland's clear rounds came from Wesley Byrne and the Banbridge-bred 'Graf Red Dawn' and Lydia Glynn with 'Illy de Quincy'. However, Mayo's Cormac Hanley was just a time fault away from a zero score in the first round with the Galway-bred bay mare 'Cloon Captain'.

Irish team chef d'equipe Comdt. John Ledingham said after the competition: "The experience they have earned today will help them enormously in their competitive careers."

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO CH BONHEIDEN BELGIUM MAY 20-24 2010

CHILDREN ON HORSES NATIONS CUP
CSIO CH Table A Two rounds - FEI 264
Sunday May 23, 2010

1) GT. BRITAIN 5 penalties
2) IRELAND 14 penalties
Cormac Hanley; Cloon Captain (ISH) 1/4
Aoife Dooley; Wopper 16/9
Wesley Byrne; Graf Red Dawn (ISH) 0/4
Lydia Glynn; Illy de Quincy 5/0
3) BELGIUM 15 penalties

Seven teams competed

GRIFFIN TAKES WIN IN CLAREMORRIS ON SUNDAY

Galway born rider Damien Griffin ensured that the opening TRM National Grand Prix in Connuaght stayed within the region at Claremorris on Sunday when he steered Lissyegan Clover Diamond to victory in the €3,000 class.

A Puissance regular, the son of Diamond Clover, was one of five double clears to finish best of the six jump off combinations in the class sponsored by Health West, Bernie McKenna and Joe Trench and Sons.  Their time of 35.98 was good enough to ensure victory for the pair who's biggest win to date when they shared the top spot with Ellen Whitaker in the Puissance at the Northern Ireland International Horse Show in 2008.

Slotting into second was Conall McLoughlin who has taken a step closer to competing in the Pegus Horse Feeds Young Rider Final at the Young Riders National Championships in Barnadown in August.  Riding Shannondale Sonic, the pair clocked a time of 36.59, just half a second a drift of Griffin.

Now lying in third on the TRM Leader board, Olive Clarke jumped several places following their third place with Harry Aird's Cruising Stallion, Cruising Micky Finn.  A new combination this year, Clarke has clocked 12 of her 17 points on the former ride of Anthony Condon and Benny Keuhnle and they are sure to take more points as the season progresses.  Their time of 37.02 was good enough for third place.

Cormac Rafferty took fourth with a time of 46.02 with Paul O'Shea taking fifth and sixth to move him into second place on the TRM National Grand Prix League.

TRM National Grand Prix League Sixth Leg - Claremorris School of Equitation
Sponsored by Healt West, Bernie McKenna, and Joe Trench & Sons
1) Damien Griffin, Lissyegan Clover Diamond 0/0/ 35.98
2) Conal McLoughlin, Shannondale Sonic 0/0/ 36.59
3)Olive Clarke with Cruisings Mickey Finn 0/0/ 37.02
4)Cormac Rafferty, KMR Taylor Made 0/0/ 46.02
5)Paul O'Shea,Camiro De Haar Z 0/0/ 50.19
6)Paul O'Shea with Day Dream St Ghyvan Z 0/ 4/43.73
7)Richard Kerins,Steinburg , 4/ 1st Rd
8)Cian Melia , Bungowla Pressure , 4/ 1st Rd

O'SHEA TAKES SECOND WIN IN TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE

Limerick native, Paul O’ Shea rode to victory in the fourth leg of the TRM National Grand Prix today (Saturday) at Ravensdale Lodge in Dundalk.  Riding Paul Clarke’s & Michael Walsh’s, Day Dream St Ghyvan Z, O’ Shea was quickest of five double clears in a time of 35.94.

O’ Shea certainly looks determined to clock up as many wins before moving to America later in the year, having also claimed victory in the first Premier Series in Louth aboard Primo De Revel.  Continuing his good show of form, he also took the honours in the second leg of the TRM National Grand Prix league at Barnadown earlier in the month.

Current National Grand Prix Champion, Francis Connors was keen to clock up some valuable league points and, did not disappoint as he claimed the runner-up spot, when delivering a double clear with Alice Kehoe’s Westwinds Cirracruise in 36. 70.

Third place went to Clem McMahon and Minnie Clover, who crossed the line with nothing to add in a time of 37. 32.  A consistent winner for Mc Mahon last season, this was the combinations first Grand Prix placing this year.

Best of the Young riders was Mili McIntyre riding her own Vrenske Drum vh Juxschot. Competing in their first Grand Prix of the year, the Kilkenny rider steered the Belgian bred gelding into fourth place when delivering another clear in 41.50.

Ross Mulholland and Linda Courtney’s Diamond Toby accounted for fifth place when delivering the final clear 44.64, while Lucy Buchanan and Cavalier Andy were best of the four faulters for sixth place.
 
Grand Prix Results
Sponsored by Botanica, Prize fund €3000
Paul O' Shea riding Paul Clarke’s & Michael Walsh’s  Day Dream St Ghyvan Z 0/0 35.94
Francis Connors riding Alice Kehoe’s Westwinds Cirracruise 0/0 36.70
Clem Mc Mahon riding Sean Mulkern’s  Minnie Clover 0/0 37.32
Mili Mc Intyre riding her own Vrenske Drum Vh Juxschot  0/0 41.50
Ross Mulholland  riding Linda Courtney’s Diamond Toby  0/0 44.64
Lucy  Buchanan riding Irish Bearings Ltd And Lucy Buchanan’s  Lucy Cavalier Andy 0/4 39.21

KEANE MOVES CLEAR AT TOP OF TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE FOLLOWING WIN IN KILL

Tholm Keane extended his lead at the top of the table in the TRM National Grand Prix League yesterday at Kill International with a win on Ronan Tynan's Warrenstown You 2 in the €3,000 Bridge House Stud sponsored highlight.

In one of the most hotly contested classes of the year so far, Keane prevailed on the son of Narcos in a particularly fast jump off which yielded 14 combinations from the first round.  Having substituted the Stallion for Warrenstown Well Aware, Keane was last to go in the jump off and snatched the win in the dying moments. 

Coming closest of all was Alexander Butler on Will Wimble.  The pair held the early lead and their time seemed to be very difficult to beat.  However, Butler had to settle for the minor placings following Keane's blistering display.

National Champion Nicola FitzGibbon, took third with the very consistent Puissance in their first Grand Prix of 2010.  The pair made a lot of noise last year when winning the Premier Grand Prix in South County Dublin, followed by the 8 Year Old and Over Championship in the RDS and they rounded a fantastic fortnight by being crowned National Champion.  They will have a lot to look forward to again this year.

Waterford's Paddy O'Donnell took fourth with Thomas Power's Harristown Princess.  Always a consistent combination, O'Donnell provided another solid display following on from a very successful stint on International duty in Italy.

Robert Harrison took fifth with Team Harmony Chelto Z with Olive Clarke taking sixth on Deirdre Bourns's Mark Q.

Next weekend sees a double header in the TRM National Grand Prix League with Ravensdale in Dundalk on Saturday and Claremorris taking place on Sunday.

TRM National Grand Prix 4th leg in Kill.  Kindly Sponsored by Bridge House Stud.
1st Tholm Keane/Warrenstown You 2
2nd Alexander Butler/Will Wimble
3rd Nicola Fitzgibbon/Puissance
4th Paddy O Donnell/Harristown Princess
5th Robert Harrison/Team Harmony Chelto Z
6th Olive Clarke/Mark Q.

MCSORLEY TAKES MEMORABLE WIN IN CAVAN GRAND PRIX

Young rider Seamus McSorley had a day to remember when competing in his first ever leg of the TRM National Grand Prix League in Cavan this afternoon.

With 3,000euro on offer from Cavan Equestrian Centre, the 15 Year old was one of just 2 double clear rounds with the 9 Year Old son of Irish Independent Echo Beach, Beach Ball. Clocking a time of 42.50, the Killkenny student produced a marvellous display to take the first Grand Prix win.

Following the class he said; ''The win was unbelievable and amazing. I will be aiming now for the Ravensdale leg of the league next in two weeks.''

Mayo rider Padraic Judge slotted into second with his own and Nuala Judge's Hello Spider. Recording the only othe double clear round, Judge finished ahead of home rider Mervyn Clarke and Santee with Ross Mulholland in fourth.

RESULT CAVAN EQUESTRIAN CENTRE PART OF THE TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE
1st Seamus McSorely (YR)/Beach Ball 0/0 42.50
2nd Padraic Judge Hello Spider 0/0 47.17
3rd Mervyn Clarke Santee 0/4 41.90
4th Ross Mulholland Diamond Toby
5th Jessica Burke (YR)/Vitesse
6th Angela Percy/Arsalla

O'SHEA TAKES SECOND LEG OF TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE IN BARNADOWN

Blessed with glorious sunshine, Barnadown Stud near Gorey Co Wexford provided the perfect setting for round 2 of the TRM National Grand Prix League where Limerick born Paul O Shea finished top of the podium after a 16 way jump - off. Riding the Paul Clarke and Michael Walsh owned Day Dream St Ghyvan Z, O Shea had to take the tightest of turns and galloped all the way to land the lions share of the 3,000 euro on offer from sponsors Bloxham Stockbrokers.
 
'' I am delighted to take this win today at Barnadown especially for my owners who are so important, the Premiere series is my main goal but hopefully I can continue to pick up points in the Trm National League along the way'' commented Paul O Shea afterwards.
 
 Galway's Olive Clarke can count herself unlucky not to have taken first place after posting the fastest time of the competition with Cruisings Micky Finn, but one fence down saw them finish in 6th place. Clarke however did take runner up spot on her other mount Starboard, when clear in 40.26 seconds.
Conor Swail and Peninsula Kheelan looked an impressive partnership and their time of 42.82 seconds was good enough to takethird place.
 
Last weeks winner at Thomastown, Tholm Keane was double handed in the jump off but an early rail down with Warrenstown U2 meant the Waterford rider had to rely on a clear in 43.49 seconds from Redmills Krafty Jack to give him valuable league points from a fourth place finish, while Ross Mullholland and Touched Up finished fifth with a staedy clear round in 51.49 seconds.
 
 
FULL RESULT - TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE - BARNADOWN STUD GOREY CO WEXFORD - SUNDAY MAY 9TH
 
1. DAY DREAM ST GHYVAN Z, PAUL O SHEA  C/C 40.05
2. STARBOARD, OLIVE CLARKE, C/C 42.26
3. PENINSULA KHEELAN, CONOR SWAIL,  C/C 42.82
4. REDMILLS KRAFY JACK, THOLM KEANE, C/C 43.49
5. TOUCHED UP, ROSS MULHOLLAND, C/C 51.49
6. CRUISINGS MICKY FINN, OLIVE CLARKE, C/4 39.48
7. HERRACROSS, FRANCIS CONNORS, C/4 43.23
8. VALENT, DERMOTT LENNON, C/4 44.52
9. SLIEVEANORRA, EDDIE MOLONEY, C/4 44.81
10. VAMPIRE, DERMOTT LENNON, C/4 45.61
 
54 Starters
 
16 Through to Jump-Off
 
FOR more on today's sponsors Bloxham Stockbrokers visit  www.bloxhams.ie                                                                                                                                                                                                           
2010 National Grand Prix League sponsors TRM and its associated distribution company TRI Equestrian have 55 employees in their state of the art manufacturing and logistics facility in Newbridge, as well Ireland’s largest retail store based at the Curragh. For more info visit  www.trm-ireland.com

All Ireland Inter Schools Championships

St Finian’s College stole all the limelight on Sunday when taking the very prestigious All Ireland Inter Schools Open Show Jumping Championship at the Enniscorthy Showgrounds.

The team of Guiseppe Orlandi, Ciara Clogher, Eadaoin Conway and Lauren Dolan represented the Mullingar School to take a coveted victory in the Gain Horse Feeds sponsored event.  They just pipped the St Mary’s Secondary School from New Ross in what is always a titanic battle for the Red Rosette.

Rockwell College from Co Tipperary took third place just ahead of St Peter’s College from Wexford.

While in the Slaney Meats Senior Individual Championship, Kildare rider Alyssa O’Neill from Newbridge College took the top spot with Rathkenny Snapdragon.

This pairing finished just ahead of Yolanda Murphy on King Cliff with Helena Murphy and Mathius, both from Ramsgrange Community School in Wexford, taking third.

Finally the Horse Sport Ireland Junior Individual Championships went the way of David Mullins and Spot from St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny.  Another from the Mullins dynasty, David took this Championship win just in front of Adam Dodds from Kilkeel High Schook in Down in second with Ellen Brennan and Bobbyjo taking third for St Angela’s Secondary School in Waterford.

LENNON FOLLOWS FROM WORLD CUP FIFTH TO TAKE COILOG PREMIER SERIES

(Left) Dermott Lennon and Vampire on their way to winning the Coilog Equestrian Premier Grand Prix

Continuing  his upward trajectory, northern rider Dermott Lennon, took the honours in the second round of the Premier Series at Coilog Equestrian today (Sunday). Riding Sandra Lennon’s eight year-old gelding ‘Vampire’, the combination was quickest of the six-way jump-off when clear in 41.07. Lennon, who was fifth in the Rolex world cup earlier in the month, had qualified three horses in the Coilog Sponsored feature class today.

Speaking after the class, the winner commented: “I was delighted with the win today as it is my first win on home soil this year with Vampire. I have the horse since he was a three-year-old and he always plenty of potential. I will be heading to Balmoral next and I hope it will go my way there too”.

Galway rider, Olive Clarke looked set for the challenge and took all the tight lines with Harry Aird’s eleven-year-old Irish bred stallion, Cruising Mickey Finn.  Delivering a super clear in a time of 41.48 was enough to claim the runner-up place on this occasion.

Acting as pathfinder, local rider Edward Doyle, set the target clear in a time of 43.74 with Clipper VD Begijnakker. This effort would prove sufficient for third place in the final line-up.

Fresh from his National Grand Prix  win at Thomastown yesterday (Saturday), Tholm Keane and Ronan’s Tynan’s Stallion Warrenstown You 2 set off at a determined  pace. An unlucky four faults at the last, in a time of 39.44 would prove sufficient for fourth place.

Trevor Breen, riding Karen Swann’s Adventure De Kannan took fifth place, when faulting at the penultimate fence in a time of 44.32, while Mervyn Clarke and his own The Big Boy accounted for sixth place.

1. Dermott Lennon riding Vampire (K W P N) Owner Sandra Lennon 0/0 41.07
2. Olive Clarke riding  Cruisings Micky Owner Finn Harry Aird 0/0 41.48
3. Edward Jnr Doyle riding Clipper VD Begijnakker Owner Edward Jnr Doyle 0/0 43.74
4. Tholm Keane riding Warrenstown You 2 Owner Ronan Tynan 0/4 39.44
5. Trevor Breen riding  Adventure De Kannan OwnerKaren Swann 0/4 44.32
6. Mervyn Jr Clarke riding Santee Owner Pauline Clarke 0/8 38.26
7. Mervyn Jr Clarke riding The Big Boy Owner Mervyn Jr Clarke
8. Philip Horgan  riding Azarro Van Het Hoogeinde Owner Philip Horgan
9. Jonathan Corrigan riding  Quantum Udessa  Owner Jonathan Corrigan
10. John Floody riding Larkhill Cruiser Michael Smith

KEANE TAKES OPENING LEG OF TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE

Tholm Keane and Warrenstown Well Aware (Left)

Waterford's Tholm Keane opened the newly sponsored TRM National Grand Prix League with a blistering win on Ronan Tynan's Warrenstown Well Aware at Thomastown on Sunday.

Runner up in the National Grand Prix League for the previous three year's Keane could not have made a better start to the campaign taking one of just four double clear rounds to come home an easy winner by two and half seconds.  Keane had earlier stated that he was again aiming to take on Fra in the race for the league title so this win puts him firmly to the top of the table for the moment.

Following several placed efforts in the HSI Chippison Spring Tour, Tralee rider Sinead Kennedy came close yet again with her father Bill's KEC Alicante.  Having led for some time, Kennedy had produced another top class effort however, she only found Keane too good on this ocassion.

Ger O'Neill took third with the very consistent I Caeser.  O'Neill took the runner up spot on the Chippison Spring Tour leaderboard behind runaway winner John Floody and he has begun with a good start here in Thomastown.

Eleven times National Grand Prix League Champion Francis Connors slotted into fourth with Claire McDonnell's Lismore Coasting just ahead of Young Rider Michael Hutchinson and Cullenagh Lucinda. 

The TRM National Grand Prix League continues next Sunday in Barnadown.

1.Tholm Keane riding Ronan Tynan's Warrenstown 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
7 Tholm Keane riding Ronan Tynan's Redmills Krafty Jack 4/85.91
8. Peter Smyth riding Mary Barron's Hermione IV 4/92.82
9. Francis Connor's riding Sean Hayden's Lundy Lad 4/ 94.21
10. Sean Walsh riding his own Kimberlite 8/ 85.39