The fifth leg of the Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix saw County Tyrone rider Jonathan Smyth put his first victory on the board at Cavan Equestrian on 26 July.

Smyth was riding the Ann Doherty-owned Crystal Tom when he logged the winning round of clear in 41.07 seconds.

Bred by the late Anthony Doherty, Crystal Tom is a 10-year-old gelding by Silvano and out of the Graf Magna sired dam, Lady Graf.

The win was well-deserved after this combination were just pipped at the post a week previous in Barnadown. As a result of this win they now hold second place on the leader board on 18 points, just two behind current leaders Susan Fitzpatrick and Verdict De Kezeg.

In total, 39 combinations took on the course on Sunday, and with riders and horses up to the task in hand, 16 combinations booked their ticket to the jump-off against the clock. Of those 16, six double clears were delivered.

Up to the challenge

National Grand Prix Champion, Liam O’Meara put his first points on the board as he took second with Helen Sheridan’s Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, when they kept all the poles in place in a time of 42.50 seconds.

Third place went to Sam El Dahan with Joanne Sloan Allen’s WKD Aimez Moi who were clear in 42.85 seconds.

Joanne Blair opted for a more cautious plan with her own Irish Sport Horse, Mon Ami and it paid off as all the poles stayed in place in a time of 44.42 seconds for fourth place.

Kildare’s Derek McConnell is proving consistent in this league and this week he was back in the line-up, claiming fifth with Sorcha Hennessy’s Dothraki Warlord, when clear in 44.56 seconds.

Last of the double clears and taking sixth place was Richard Kerins and Korena Byrne-owned Small Change, when they stopped the clock in 49.20 seconds.

Extra competitions for young horses

Last week, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) announced that three additional competitions have been scheduled for young horses aiming for the 2020 FEI-WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Lanaken in Belgium.

In this particularly challenging year, there have been less competition opportunities to develop good jumping records for young horses and opportunities to familiarise the horses with jump-off classes.

By running these extra classes for five, six and seven-year-old young horses, these venues are assisting the owners and riders of these horses to develop the competition record of their horses prior to the championships in Belgium.

In preparation for a results-based selection process the following venues will host these additional classes as part of their shows:

• 30 July, Summer Classic Series.

• 9 August, Tipperary Equestrian Centre.

• 12 August, Cuffesgrange show.

See horsesportireland.ie for more information on eligibility criteria.