Reigning champion Seamus Hayes showed that he will not give up his Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix title without a fight, by winning the latest round of the series at Cork Summer Show on Saturday (13th July).
The Tipperary rider beat off the challenge of 17 competitors in the jump off and at the finish had almost 4 seconds to spare as his own heartbreaker gelding Twister showed that on his day, is one of the fastest horses in the country against the clock.
This latest victory along with wins at Balinamona and Tallow, has moved Hayes right into contention for league honours, as the series enters its final 6 rounds.
The battle for second place was incredibly tight with less than a second separating 4 riders. Thomas O Brien picked up his first points of the season when finishing runner up with Ullrich after a double clear in 41.46 seconds.
League leader Francis Connors has picked up points at every single round of the league so far and the Waterford rider continued this run at Cork, finishing in third place with the S&L Farms owned Bullit (41.55).
Kilkenny’s Eddie Moloney slotted into fourth with the Manhatton sired Dante Van De Noordheuvel (41.86). Francis Connors grabbed some more prize money for fifth place with the Bobby Flynn owned Hyperion (42.45) while Peter Moloney continued to add to his points tally, finishing in sixth place with Lady Silver (43.44) while the Colligan rider yet again posted a double clear round with the consistent Ribanbelle Tame (44.39) to finish seventh.
Francis Connors continues to head the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league table, with a double header of action scheduled for next weekend.
Co Clare Agricultural Show hosts round ten of the series this Saturday(20th July), before Newcastlewest Show in Co Limerick plays host to round eleven of the league on Sunday(21st July).
FULL RESULT
CONNOLLY’S RED MILLS MUNSTER GRAND PRIX LEAGUE
CORK SUMMER SHOW SATURDAY 13/07/2013
1st Seamus Hayes/Twister C/C 37.65
2nd Thomas O Brien/Ullrich C/C 41.46
3rd Francis Connors/Bullit C/C 41.55
4TH Eddie Moloney/ Dante Van De Noordheuvel C/C 41.86
5th Francis Connors/Hyperion C/C 42.45
6TH Peter Moloney/Lady Silver C/C 43.44
7TH Peter Moloney/Ribanbelle Tame C/C 44.39
8TH Seamus Hayes/Barichello W C/3 56.69
43 Starters 17 Through to Jump-off