Graham lands Gold Tour Grand Prix at Millstreet

Millstreet International CSI2* came to an exciting close on Sunday with the 1.45m Grand Prix, Gold Tour. None of the 44 riders in the class jumped double clear which resulted in an 11-way jump-off.

Victory went to Kenneth Graham and George, completing on four faults in 54.33. Owned by William Lapsley, the 16-year-old ISH gelding by Touchdown and out of the Cloverhill-sired mare, Solas Dubh. Kevin Gallagher and Ballypatrick Flamenco were second (57.18), ahead of Harry Marshall and Flambeau (KWPN) (57.22).

America’s Kerry Mc Cahill stopped the clock at 58.17 for fourth place with GRC Acapella, while Peter Smyth and Des Le Debut came fifth (60.22).

Junior European Champion, Kate Derwin was fastest of the eight faulters aboard Ahg Whiterock Cruise Down in 50.38 for sixth place.

O’Donnell success

Over the course of the show Paddy O’Donnell was the rider to beat as he won four international classes. The Waterford rider won the first international 1.25m class on Thursday with Seefin Surprise. The eight-year-old mare is owned by O’Donnell’s aunt, Angela Lynch and was bred by Michael Feeney (Road To Happiness x Oprah (Grey Macha)).

His winning streak continued as he claimed the second international class, the 1.30m Two Phase Silver/Gold Tour, aboard Minority Report. On Saturday he was back in the ribbons again with the 17-year-old owned by Joanna Rimmer.

O’Donnell ended the show on a high note, winning the 1.30m Gold and Silver Tour on Sunday, this time riding The Best of Quality, jumping clear in 36.05. Owned by Vivienne Quigley and bred by Geraldine Quigley, the gelding is by Quality Safari, by the Master Imp-sired gelding, Impress.

Young rider, Sven Hadley made his presence felt when he jumped clear in 30.83 to finish second in the opening international class and fouth in the second class with Ganorad.

This combination are undoubtedly on form as they went on to win the 1.25m on Friday morning. Owned by Hadley Sport Horses, the eight-year-old Dutch-bred gelding was bred by W.Santegoeds and is by Bacardi Vdl and out of Anora (Undercover).

Jonathan Smyth and Charlton Clio (ISH) won the 1.40m Grand Prix qualifier on the opening day of the show. Bred by Peter Mulrine and owned by Richard Smyth, the 13-year-old mare is by HHS BR Charlton out of Admiran Clio (Clover Hill). Smyth won Saturday’s international class with Cruising Lux.

Vincent Byrne won the 1.30 international class on Friday with Mr Rockefeller. Bred by Bart O’Connor, the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding is by Ard Vdl Douglas and out of Kings Aire (Kings Servant).

83 riders went to post in the 1.40m Gold Tour on Friday afternoon with Francis Connors winning the class riding Erne Lady Goldilocks. Bred and owned by Hugh Fitzpatrick, the 12-year-old mare is by VDL Douglas and out of Erne Touch (Some Touch).

Young Irelander

The final of the Young Irelander Final (loose jumping for three-year-old horses) took centre stage on Friday, where OBOS Quality progeny stood out.

Victory went to Pat McDonnell’s Kilnamac Maud on a score of 87%. Bred by James Ryan from Tipperary, the mare is by OBOS Quality and is out of Kilnamac Stiletto (Luz Z).

Very close behind was the Jonathan Flynn and Diane Fletcher owned Lyon Toltien, a stallion by Etoulon VDL. He impressed when awarded a score of 86%. Accounting for third place was Pam Walshe’s Cornet Q on a score of 84.5%, a mare by Cornet Oblensky and out of Jump The Q (OBOS Quality). Another son of OBOS Quality filled fourth place, John Tyner and Gerard Jennings’ The Real McCoy on a score of 83.5%.

Jason Higgins scored 87% to win the National Discovery Horse Final with Castlefield Confellow. This results comes on the back of the same combination placing sixth in Dublin.

Owned by Ger O’ Neill and bred by Bred by Martin Doyle, the gelding by Cornet Obolensky and out of Fendoy (Laughtons Flight).

Mikey Pender won the five-year-old Grand Prix Final with his own Madges Lane Caprice. This gelding is by Capri Van Overis Z and out of the Quidam Junior-sired dam, Chatsworth Junior.

Later in the day, Pender won the Boomerang Grand six/seven-year-old Grand Prix Final with HHS Fast Forward. Bred by Marion Hughes, this seven-year-old gelding is by Heritage Fortunus and out of China Cavalier (Cavalier Royale).