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Next
into the ring was one of Ireland's newest Grand Prix partnerships - Glen Leddy
and Merljin - pictured below left - , an 11 year old Dutch bred gelding
by Emillion. This super clean horse with no lack of scope was found for Glen
by Irish Olympian, Jessica Kurten and Glen has had him just 2 months, The horse
was previously ridden by Daniel Etter from Switzerland and was owned by Daniel's
girlfriend Marie Pellegrin (FR) - Glen rode a vert careful and soft jump off
course today as horse and rider get to know each other - and all was on track
for a clear round when Glen had a really unlucky rail at 12B - he did everything
right, taking a nice turn to 12A ensuring the horse came in straight and they
jumped it well getting a good strike at 12B, but a light tap and the rail fell
leaving them with 4 faults in 42.75secs. |
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Steven
Smith and Patrick A Walsh's newest sensation, Impact were next out - pictured
below - this is another new combination on the Grand Prix circuit and they
are both great talents in the jumping arena and the more they get to know each
other the better they are becoming - today was a super round by Steven with
every possible turn taken at it's tighest angle and they all paid off - brilliantly
ridden on a brilliant horse - a clear round in 36.85secs putting him provisionally
into the lead! |
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But Steven
would not have been figuring where to hang his new rosette just yet as there
were still four to come and anyone of them was more than capable of knocking
him out of 1st placing but they would have to be working hard to do it!
Peter
Smyth was next out with Edmund Simpson's Irish-bred trotter Zara's Pride -
this horse and rider combination have been National Champions in previous
years and they are making their prescence felt again this year - Peter didn't
not make any wild moves this round though and was looking for a good strong
clear round and that is precisely what they produced as they came through
the finish flags with everything in place and the clock stopped at 42.89secs.
Pardon
the indulgence but the two photos below are Zara's Pride "in full flight"
and over the fence - this horse is one of jumpingaround.com's favourite horses
to photograph and watch.
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Shane
Breen and James Costigan's Always Cullohill did not have the dream round this
trip around a jump off and finished with 12 faults in 44.07secs - but this
man is the consummate professional and will be back next week jumping in super
style.
Second
last to go - Sarah Kate Quinlivan, winner of the Coilog leg last weekend in
driving rain was back to see what she could do this week - Sarah Kate aboard
BIll Daly's mare, Newmarket Girl - pictured below left - came out with
the pedal down - there is nothing like an "in form" combination
and that is exactly what these two are - they went around the jump off course
picture perfect with Sarah Kate giving the mare a perfect ride and the mare
responding by jumping super well - they took every opportunity to turn and
cut out strides where the course allowed and came through the finish flags
with all fences standing and a time of 35.36secs which was going to be hard
for last out Cian O'Connor to beat.
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Last
to go and the only one who could deny sarah Kate two wins in a row, Cian O'Connor
aboard a horse he once owned, Gain Dot Com - pictured below left. This horse
was sold to Denis Flannelly in 2003, campaigned by Australian Scottie Barclay
in 2004 and returned to Cian's saddle at the end of 2004. Today, however was
not to be their day as Gain Dot Com got very flustered after a turn from 6 to
14 which he was not confident about leaving 14 on the floor and this was then
compounded by a tight turn to 12A which the horse tried to get over |
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but simply couldn't leaving this combination with 8 faults in 39.19secs leaving
the victory to young Sarah Kate Quinlivan from Cork and Newmarket Girl for the
second week in a row - no doubt it was a happy trip back to Cork after the jumping
finished for the day and this win sees Sarah Kate breathing down Cian's collar
on the leaderboard. |
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Frank
Glynn's dry humour obviously had them all laughing - pictured above right
- in between rounds of the Grand Prix - even the fence wing was seeing the humourin
whatever it was that Frank said - Tom Holden, with his very warm hat on, was
barely able to contain himself - hmmmm wonder what the latest in Course Designer
jokes is......................... |
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Pictured
left: First place (Sarah Kate Quinlivan) and second (Steven Smith) placegetters
in today's Grand Prix have a chat during presentation.
Pictured
below: Helena Walsh from Darragh Equestrian Solutions makes the presentation
to Sarah Kate
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Pictured
right: Showjumpers Club Chairman, Jack Doyle makes the presentation to the
owner of the winning horse, Billy Daly - it is great to see owners appreciated
in this way as without them many riders wouldn't have horses to ride! |
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