Table topper Duffy comes up trumps again in latest Connacht Grand Prix

THE ninth leg of the Olympic Saddlery Connacht Grand Prix League was held on Sunday at Tubberbride Riding Centre, Sligo in perfect weather conditions. The Kerins family went to great lengths to ensure the smooth running of the event so with 61 starters.

The sponsor of the class was Gain Horse Feeds and their representative, Philip Gilligan, was on hand to make the presentations. The course was designed by Charles Hanley and Richard Kerins and the first clear round was recorded by the ninth horse, Torino, ridden by Michael Duffy. 

Thirty-one horses further on Cormac Rafferty obliged with KMR Taylor Made to rapturous applause from the many spectators who were beginning to fear there wouldn’t be a jump-off at all. However, by the end of the first round, had settled down and six came through to the jump-off while the final four places went to a single time-faulter and the three fastest four-faulters. 

The jump-off track was open to plenty of interpretation and Michael Duffy, who was first to negotiate it with Torino, jumped clear in 44.79 seconds. First to take Duffyon was Shane Goggins with Timiduane Cruise who shaved over five seconds off the time but had a fence down. Cormac Rafferty was a fraction slower than Shane but Taylor Made also had a fence down. 

Slightly slower again was Derek McCoppin and Lismoyle Simba, also with four faults.  Then Shane Goggins came in with his second horse, the impressive Ardcolum Duke, and they shot into the lead with their clear round in 41.74 seconds.

 Last to go was Michael Duffy and Coco Chic, the combination that is currently top of the leaderboard.  They thrive on speed and Sunday was no exception. Their clear round in 39.43 clinched the top prize of the class, together with the handsome Tom Fallon Memorial Cup which was presented to him by Tom’s grandchildren.

Olympic Saddlery’s prize for the best turn-out went to Cormac Hanley. Current leaderboard standings are as follows: Michael Duffy (Coco Chic) 51, Michael Duffy (Ali G) 31, Shane Goggins (Ardcolum Duke) 27 and Gabriel Slattery (Captain’s Magic Touch) 25.

There were 82 starters in the 1.20m class which was sponsored by Andrew Gardiner, Jim Jackson and Noel McGowan and also carried the magnificent Tom Kilcoyne Memorial Cup. The winner here was Aoife McCabe from Kilcolgan riding Carramore Oasis. Second was Jason Sweeney and ICU, third Stephen Egan and Regal Pressure, fourth Ballagh Montana and Aisling Byrne, fifth Richard Kerins and Realteen and sixth Olive Clarke with Bronze Princess.