The third leg of the Guidam Grand Prix Spring Tour was hosted by Johnny O'Connell and Kilronan Equestrian Centre, which is situated just minutes from Dublin Airport. Johnny is one of the friendliest and nicest riders on the circuit and this is reflected in his running of a show. The coffee and tea flows freely for everyone and the marquee gave respite from weather that wasn't kind, with lashing rains and high winds with food that was fresh and even healthy - this is definitely a venue that makes you want to come back for more.

Tom Holden, was the Course Designer for the day and as always he built tracks which required serious concentration by riders - as always his tracks will attract time penalties if the pace is not consistent and the course ridden as it walks. Today, the time may have been set a bit tight at 72 secs and was pushed out to 74 seconds after the fourth rider had completed the 12 fence, 15 effort course.

The start list had 48 on it and 47 of them declared for starters orders which was a great number and this Tour is seeing many of the younger riders starting their Grand Prix careers and it is also showing us some of the new horses we will be seeing on the circuit this year.

Our first clear round came from the third starter, Johnny O'Connell and the impressive bay Salypso and the crowd who were standing 4 rows deep to watch the class let out an almighty roar of approval for this combination.

Pictured left - Tom Holden puts the finishing touches to the greenery.

Pictured below - Intent faces watch the class - this would be one of the biggest crowds I have seen this season.

Pictured above - Johnny O'Connell and Salypso showing great style over the fence gave the expectant crowd the first clear round for the class.

and although they jumped clear they attracted a single time fault, until the time was readjusted meaning that we now had a jump off.

The third clear round came to us from Liam Filan and KFG Anthony T and although Cmdt Gerry Flynn jumped a lovely clear round with Cnoc na Seimhre, they collected a time fault on their journey, keeping them out of today's jump off.

Linda Ekberg and Tom Moloney's Dino were another combination which left all the fence sin place but collected a time fault for being just outside the time.

The Army again recorded a clear round for a jump off place when Lt. Brian Curran Cournane jumped clear in the correct with Necarne, giving us four through to the jump off at a little over the half way mark.

The next clear came from 17 year old Yvonne Dunne and Nisteria B - pictured left - this young lady has been improving steadily working her way up the grades and today all her hard work paid off when she became the fifth rider through to the jump off.
Yvonne's mum, dad and little sister, Anne-Marie were very excited as they held their breath throughout the round and let out a huge cheer when everything was in place as they came through the finish flags.

Capt David O'Brien and the Minister for Defence's Kilteely were the 45th combination to enter the ring and tackle Tom Holden's track and they came through the finish flags as the 6th combination for the jump off when everything stayed in place and time was right.

And the 3rd last combination, Andrew Bourns and Caprice, winners of the previous weeks leg at Kill International produced another super round to also join the jump off giving us a 7 horse jump off which was going to be hard fought by excellent competitors.