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One of
Ireland's best Course Designers, Tom Holden, was in the hot seat today
building for this Autumn Grand Prix class and he had to make the decision
about what he was going to do with the track on discovering that he had
a starting list of 66, with some of the best horses in Ireland lining
up for the starters orders!
Tom decided
to go 1.40m with a high degree of difficulty and that is exactly how things
panned out with just nine combinations going through to the jump off. The
first fence caught many riders - it was a very square oxer heading towards
the pocket and it was dropped by both the front and back rails falling for
many of the combinations including Cian O'Connor's Olympic mount, Waterford
Crystal which surprised many and disappointed people who wanted to see the
horse in the jump off.
The time
was also tight on the track and unlucky was Denis Flannelly, from Kill International
Equestrian Centre, whose mount Euforia, owned by American Mary Lou Cassone,
was touching the light fittings as he jumped around the course but unfortunately
was not to be in the jump off when he collected 3 time penalties after adding
a couple of strides from fence 1 to fence 2 - the course was this technical
that there was no room for adding strides anywhere on course - it had to be
jumped as Tom Holden built it! Denis placed 10th in the class as the only
3 faulter today.
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It
was great to see so many spectators in for the Grand Prix - it adds to the
atmosphere for both organisers and riders and horses when there is a good
crowd encouraging good jumping - "farrier to the stars" John Dooley
- pictured right - was there to watch as many of those in
the class are wearing his handy work on their feet! |
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Australian
visitor, Sally Ann Barbera - pictured left - , was most impressed
with the Grand Prix and saw many horses she would have taken home! Sally Ann
is a Coach Educator in New South Wales and competes in Dressage since moving
to Australia from the UK where she was a successful showjumper before switching
disciplines. Sally Ann enjoyed the search for a new superstar horse! |
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Great
to see James Kernan - pictured right - back in the saddle
after a long lay off due to a back and leg injury. |
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Apart
from being a top class Course Designer, Tom Holden - pictured right
- is an all round nice bloke who never is in too much of a hurry for a
chat, whether it is about his track or about showjumping in general.
Tom spent
time this year in Germany, working under the guidance of Frank Rothenburger
and felt that he learned so much from him that he will return hopefully soon
to work with him again - this can only be good for Irish showjumping as Tom
is building tracks up to speed for the continent!
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And
so to the jump off - first to go was Captain David O'Brien, riding the Minister
for Defence's Kilteely - pictured below - and they set the pace
jumping an excellent round but unfortunately lowering the second last fence,
a tall vertical, to finish with four faults in 39.36secs. |
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Robert
Splaine, currently being touted for the position of Chef d'Equip for the Super
League Nations Cup series in 2006, was next to go with the handsome, talented
and gorgeous natured Irish Draught stallion Clarion Hotels Coolcooran Cool Diamond.
The stallion seemed fascinated by the surface in the Kill International Equestrian
Centre's indoor arena and in both rounds he came in and seemed to be digging
for a roll - pictured below - but on both occasions "marked
his territory" by having a quick toilet stop before jumping! |
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It
is obviously something Robert is used to and he waited patiently until Cool
Diamond - pictured below - had finished his business and then
got on with the job of jumping. Although finishing with a very good time of
37.52secs, they lowered an oxer in the jump off to finish with 4 faults. |
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Next
to go was English visitor, Jane Annett and her own Cullawn Diamond - pictured
below left and right - and the crowd were loudly supportive of her careful
clear round in 47.85secs putting her provisionally in the lead. Jane took it
cautiously perhaps as a warm up class for the Cavan International Show which
begins on Wednesday. |
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