Rolestown certainly pulled out all stops for their 25th Anniversary Show providing a prize fund of euro15,000 to attract the entries which they did. This show is run in aid of the St. Francis Hospice in Raheny with all proceeds going to the Hospice.

The Rolestown Show has donated euro70,000 to the Hospice which is a fabulous effort by all concerned. Chairman of the committee, Frank Glynn and his hardworking committee are to be commended for running a super show and Frank also has the task of being Course Designer ably assisted by his band of hardworking Course Builders.

Saturday saw a beautiful day with the sun shining even though the forecast was for a less than pleasant day so everyone was delighted - the ground in the horse arenas was in good condition contrary to the "word on the street".

Frank and his crew obviously not swayed into kindness by the glorious weather we have been experiencing over the past weeks set the opening 1.30m track and it was definitely well a "big" 1.30m which begged the question of "how big will the Grand Prix track be?"

Well the Grand Prix track proved to be big enough and included the open water fence. With 53 listed starters this was going to be a tough class to win and after the final horse went through the finish flags there were 13 combinations into the jump off.

Brendan McArdle, who does the RTE equestrian commentary was in good form as the commentator for the two Grand Prix's of this show and he gave a hearty Irish welcome to Ian and Pat Mouser, from Australia who have returned to Ireland for a second visit, for the summer bringing with them their two Irish bred stallions. Clover Flush, now 13 was bought at the end of 1997 and brought to Australia where he has proved to be a great showjumper who was down to the last eight for selection for the Sydney Olympic Games, with rider Greg Smith aboard. He has won many titles in his excellent career in Australia and he arrives back in Ireland with his stablemate Carrick Clover, also 13 who traveled with Clover Flush to Australia. Carrick Clover, another son of Clover Hill has also been jumping exceptionally well in Australia. Clover Flush was bred by Carmel and Dermot Ryan and Carmel was very excited to see how her "baby" had matured and greeted the horses on their arrival some 10 days ago, at Edward Doyle's yard and she was delighted with the way he looked and how he had matured. At the time of going to air we understand the two horses will travel this week to Hickstead where they hope to qualify for the Derby - naturally as fellow Australians we wish them the best of luck there.

So back to the Grand Prix class - one of the hardest working young ladies on the circuit opened the batting as first into the ring - Del Collins and Ronnie Hollinger's Creevagh Dukadari jumped a super round finishing with just the four faults, while Sophie Horn chose to retire with her own Lords High Flight. Mary Barron and her own Party Time M went through the finish flags with 8 faults while Australian owned Clover Flush left the arena with 16 faults. Trevor Bartlett aboard Francis Doherty's Best Western was another who chose to retire and James Derham and his own Dieu Donnez were pleased to get out of a "dunking" when the horse decided it didn't like the open water fence - he was eliminated but did manage to fall away from the water so he was still laughing as he left the arena.

Pictured above: Delyth Collins and Creevagh Dukadari owned by Ronnie Hollinger

going to be jumpable and it was combination eight who proved it was!

Edward Doyle and Ayumi Kotani's lovely stallion Cor D'Alme Z gave us the first clear round for the class but it was not until 7 riders later that we got our second clear round and it came from Jack Doyle on the Cruicerath Syndicate's Owen II who was making his Grand Prix debut and they gave the spectators a lovely round to watch - this is a young horse who has a big future!

Paul O'Shea then gave the expectant crowd a third combination into the jump off with Paul Clarke's Mahon Point. Stephen Smith and Robert Hancock's very handsome dark stallion Laraghlease Western Desert came in with clear round number four quickly followed by the next rider, Peter Croke and his own Blanchardstown Four x Four. Peter Smyth and his own Western Fairway came through the finish flags clear as did Lt. David O'Brien and the Minister for Defence's Killossery Kruisette.

Sarah Kate Quinlivan riding Billy Daly's Newmarket Girl jumped a super clear round on the mare which was previously jumped by her sister Danielle. Damien Doyle and his own Baronessa joined the jump off riders as did Harry Marshall and Shirley Marshall's All Shook Up. Harry was sitting on 6 points in the IJM Timber Frame National Grand Prix League coming into this competition so points were important to move him up the ranks.

Conor Swail and Knightfield Equestrian's Conduct were another combination into the jump off and they were sitting in fourth spot in the league coming into this round so a high placing was important to them. John Floody and Denis Finn's Peninsula Cherubin 8, sitting in second spot on the league coming into this round joined the jump off as did League leader, Shane Breen and Sandra Duffy's World Cruise who were last to go in round one.

At this point I would like to say how well Pat and Ian Mouser's Carrick Clover jumped finishing with just four faults for a foot in the water which was a fabulous effort from the horse who tried over every fence and jumped really well considering this would have to rate as one of the biggest and most technical course this horse has faced to date.

So first out in the jump off which had gone up a couple of holes from round one was Edward Doyle and Cor D'Ame Z and they set the standard with a great clear round in 33.91secs and this meant we were in for a toughly contested class.

Jack Doyle followed his brother, but being on a young horse doing his first Grand Prix was not kicking for time and Owen II finished with 11 faults but Jack was not unhappy with the horse and is looking forward to more Grand Prixs with him.

Paul O'Shea and Mahon Point also jumped clear but did not touch Edward's time, finishing in 40.86secs but Stephen Smith and Laraghlease Western Desert must have caused Edward to hold his breath as he finished clear in 34.13secs. Peter Croke was another clear round just pipping Paul's time with 40.29secs.

Peter Smyth and Western Fairway put in a cracking round finishing with the great time of 32.26secs but unfotunately with one fence down they were not going to win this class today. Lt. David O'Brien and the gorgeous bay mare Killossery Kruisette jumped clear and took the lead with their time of 32.77secs.

Sarah Kate Quinlivan and Newmarket Girl finished with just four faults in 38.81secs and Damien Doyle was another finishing on 4 faults in 33.49secs. Harry Marshall and All Shook Up jumped an exceptional round finishing with no faults in 31.52secs taking the lead.

But Conor Swail was determined to do better and he came through the start flags with Conduct making his intentions clear and it paid off for him when he came through the finish flags with all fences in place and a time of 31.01secs putting him into the lead but there were still two to come!

John Floody and Peninsula Cherubin 8 and they had just the one fence down finishing with four faults in 33.02secs. Last to go was the favourite, Shane Breen and World Cruise but things just didn't go right today and they finished with 7 faults and collected some time penalties as well - leaving the class win to Conor Swail and Conduct.