The jump off was set to be an exciting one with nine fences to be jumped including the double of 3A and 3B which now appeared at the end of the course.

First out was Conor Swail and the O'Connor & Swail Stables Poncho. This young gelding arrived early in the year and has gone from strength to strength and today was yet another day when they were on fire. Coming out first is never easy, but for Conor it always appears easy and today was no exception as he set the challenge for those following! Poncho - pictured below left - broke the finish beam at 38.96secs which was beatable but those following had to jump clear as Swail left everything in place.

Marion Hughes, who won this event last year, on her way to Athens Olympics put in a sensational effort again jumping clear with Heritage Spirit - pictured above right - coming through the finish flags with all fences in place and a time of 37.87secs which provisionally put them in the lead.

Harry Marshall and El Campeons Ado Annie - pictured below left - opted to move up to give Conor time to warm up his second horse for this jump off and they posted the fastest time to date with 36.08secs but unfortunately they lowered two fences on their way around.
Conor entered the arena for his second round, this time aboard Samuel McQuade's Drumagoland Flight - pictured below - and again the man who must surely be the "clean jumping machine of Ireland" again clocked up a clear round, this time stopping the clock at 38.27secs provisionally giving him 2nd and 3rd place.
Andrew Bourns and Deidre Bourns Accordiano were next to enter the arena and they jumped a very good round lowering just one fence
midway around the jump off to finish with four faults in 40.87secs. they are pictured below left.

Then a bit of a wait as Conor Swail was given time to warm up his third horse for the jump off, his own Nepomuk - pictured below - , a new addition to the team.

This time Conor asked some questions of the newest member of his team and Nepomuk answered every question perfectly coming through the finish with every fence where Allan Wade put it and the clocked stopped at 36.99secs provisionally giving him 1st, 3rd and 4th but Harry Marshall was still to come!
Harry Marshall held pole position, coming out last in what had already been a crowd thrilling jump off and he was the only one who could deny Conor the win today, and there was no doubt as he came through the start flags that this was exactly what he intended to do! Harry and All Shook Up - pictured below left - took turns that had the crowd gasping and then cheering as he came over fence after fence clear and when they finished their round they had indeed stolen the win from Conor with a faultless round in 35.72secs to take out the points which would see him move well up the Leaderboard.

Final placings saw Harry Marshall and All Shook Up take the win, Conor Swail and Nepomuk claimed 2nd place, Marion Hughes was placed 3rd, Conor took 4th place with Drumagoland Flight and 5th place with Poncho. Sixth spot went to a very happy Andrew Bourns and 7th went to Harry Marshall with El Campeons Ado Annie.

What a spectacular class todays IJM Super League Grand Prix was and the sponsors, Softline Panels Ltd would have been pleased with this class.

With the main class over there was still the presentation of Leading Rider for Ring One and Ring Two.

Conor Swail took home a nice cheque for Leading Ring One rider and Leading Ring Two Rider went to Australian, Scottie Barclay - pictured below - based at Harmony Cottage Farm in Carbury, County Kildare after excellent placings in the 1.10m and 1.20m classes.

Farrier to the Stars, John Dooley - pictured below - was at South County for two reasons - to ride his own horse and to support son Gavin riding in the Young Rider classes.
The biggest question of the day was definitely "why were all these people queuing up outside the Dooley truck with Gavin in the drivers seat?
Showjumping is a family sport and pictured above right we see Sara Jane Tracy (in pale blue), her Dad, Jim (in short sleeves), sister Leanne (in pink) and Sara Jane's boyfriend, showjumper Sean Cubitt as they all pitch in the get Holmestead Little Lancer ready for the Young Rider class.
Page One

This is Page Two

Back to News Index