League leader Daniel Coyle cemented his position at the top of the Horse Sport Ireland/Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour league table, with another stunning win aboard Uptown Girl, this time in the penultimate round of the series at Warrington Equestrian Centre in Co Kilkenny.

 

Holding an eight point advantage over his nearest rival heading into the Kilkenny round, Coyle knew that with points and a half on offer the following day at Coilog, he needed another top placing to keep second placed Thomas O Brien at bay. The Derry rider did just that, finishing with almost a second in hand (36.30) over his nearest challenger, to record yet another win with the speed – specialist Concorde sired mare, Uptown Girl. 

 

Speaking afterwards a delighted Daniel Coyle said,

 

 “The course today was a bit bigger than some of the recent rounds, but it wasn’t too technical. It was a big advantage for me going into the ring last with Uptown Girl, knowing that I was already lying in third place at that stage with Zuidam. I also knew that Thomas O Brien had knocked a fence with his horse, so I could have a real go at winning the class with Uptown Girl

She (Uptown Girl) has been super for me all through the league, winning four rounds so far and I owe a big thanks to her and her owner Linzi Johnston”.

 

Warrington Equestrian Centre sponsored the competition and from the forty-two starters, thirteen made it into the jump-off over the Pat Drennan designed course including Thomas O Brien, who was lying in second place on the league table. The Galway rider recorded the second fastest time of the day with Ullrich (37.15), but one fence down would see them finish in seventh position at the end.

 

Gerard Clarke finished as runner up with Woudprins (Ico Sun x Notaris) after an excellent clear round in 37.26 seconds. Clarke is in a rich vein of form having won the Barnadown round of the series with Woudprins, while he also finished as runner up at Mullingar with Rafiki.

Damien Griffin, fresh from his win the week previous at Mullingar, was back in the prizes at Warrington taking third place with Tabby (Captain x Clover Cruising) when clear in 37.87 seconds.

 

Daniel Coyle also picked up a slice of the €2,500 on offer with Zuidam (Guidam x Indoctro),their clear round in 39.85 seconds, would eventually be good enough for fourth place, just ahead of Catriona Fallon who took fifth with Nivitas Charge K (Luidam x Cruising), stopping the clock in 45.63 seconds after another excellent clear round.

 

Local rider Marion Hughes followed up the runner up placing she recorded in the round at Ballinamona, by taking sixth place at Warrington with HHS Flo (Heritage x Fortunus Clover Hill), while another Kilkenny rider, former National Champion Eddie Moloney who was jumping on home soil at Warrington, picked up eight faults in the jump off with Pashmina K to finish in tenth place overall.

 

The final round of the 2014 Horse Sport Ireland/Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour takes place at Coilog In Co Kildare tomorrow Monday, with Daniel Coyle now holding a fifteen point advantage over second placed Thomas O Brien, while Conor McEneaney remains in third position overall.

 

The Horse Sport Ireland/Connollys RED MILLS Spring Tour, is also supported by the Show Jumpers Club, ShowjumpingIreland, Castlefield Sport Horses, Thermatex, Platinum by Harry Dabbs, Darragh Equestrian Solutions, and Jumpinaction.net

 

 

Horse Sport Ireland/Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour, Leader board following Round 14 – Warrington  20/04/2014 

Daniel Coyle 70 points

Thomas O Brien 55

Conor McEneaney 37

Liam O Meara 29

James Hogg 27

Gerard Clarke 27

 

 

1st Daniel Coyle/Uptown Girl 0/0 36.30 

2nd Gerard Clarke /Woudprins 0/0 37.26  

3rd Damien Griffin/Tabby 0/0 37.87  

4th Daniel Coyle/Zuidam 0/0 39.85  

5th Catriona Fallon/Nivitas Charge K 0/0 45.63 

6th Marion Hughes/HHS Flo 0/0 46.74  

7th Thomas O’Brien/Ullrich 0/4 37.15  

8th Kieran Carey/Hip Boy 0/4 43.15  

9th Philip McGuane/Crocodile Dundee 0/4 44.32 

10th Eddie Moloney/Pashmina K 0/8 43.02 

 

42 Starters

13 Into Jump-off

 

Highest Placed Young Rider – Daniel Coyle

Best Turned Out –  Ullrich (Thomas O’Brien)

Winning Owner – Linzi Johnston

 

ENDS

Brian Hennessy