SEAMUS HAYES AND FRANCIS CONNORS TRADE BLOWS IN BATTLE FOR CONNOLLY’S RED MILLS MUNSTER GRAND PRIX LEAGUE TITLE
BY BRIAN HENNESSY
The titanic battle to see who will be crowned Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league champion for 2013 took another twist at the weekend, as a double header of action in the Limerick/Clare region, saw the top two on the leader board both taste victory.
Seamus Hayes was first out of the blocks with a win at Co Clare show on Saturday (20th July) before Francis Connors took the winners rosette at Newcastle West a day later.
For Tipperary’s Seamus Hayes it has been a hectic seven days, winning at Cork Summer Show with Twister before getting married to fellow Show Jumper Maria Costello three days later. Hayes returned to the Show jumping ring on Saturday for round 10 of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league and once again he was in unbeatable form.
From the 22 starters a large group of 16 made it into the jump-off with Seamus Hayes and the incredibly fast “Twister” finishing double clear in a time of 41.47 seconds. In fact all of the top 8 combinations finished fault free including Carolin Huuuva who is based in Co Limerick, she finished an excellent runner up with her own Swedish Warmblood mare Jonnas Corint (42.66).
Unfortunately for his title rivals, Francis Connors once again picked up a large amount of points for finishing third with the Bobby Flynn owned gelding Hyperion (44.01), finishing just ahead of fellow Waterford rider Peter Moloney with Lady Sliver (44.71).
Jessica Burke and Vitesse took fifth place just ahead of Cliona Costello and Annestown Clover Concorde in sixth.
CONNORS WINS AT NEWCASTLE WEST – HAYES RUNNER UP
Just one day after Co Clare Show, the action moved to Newcastle West in Co Limerick, where Francis Connors halted Seamus Hayes’s run of wins. Connors took the winners prize aboard Hilda Anthony’s Uskerety Diamond Lady with a super fast double clear round in 35.20 seconds.
Seamus Hayes and Twister finished less than a second slower to take valuable points for runner up spot while Francis Connors was once again among the prizes with Bullit finishing third (39.28).
Andrew Hodgins double clear in 40.64 seconds with Hermes Clover saw them finish fourth while William McDonnell and Ballinagore Ice did post a quick time (36.96) but one fence on the floor saw them finish fifth.
Carolin Huuva who had claimed runner up spot at Co Clare Show, once again finished in the points taking sixth place with Jonnas Corint.
Francis Connors remains at the top of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league table, with Seamus Hayes hot on his heels in second. Dungarvan Show in Co Waterford hosts round 12 of the series this Thursday (25th July) after which just three more rounds will remain in the 2013 series.