Show Jumping - Kerrygold Grand Prix League - Kernan Racks Up First Win Of Season

THOUGH always in contention for the top spot, James Kernan racked up his first Grand Prix win of the season at Cavan today (Sunday), and edged himself into No.2 on the League rankings.

Riding his own <Out Of Touch>, James consolidated his consistently good performances throughout the year with the only double clear of the competition, and said afterwards: << It was a grand course, but a very testing track, and I am especially delighted with the win here today, and even more pleased to be No. 2 in the League standings.>>

Peter Smyth, fast becoming the Golden Boy of this year's League, rode his former trotter <Zara's Pride> into third place in the Grand Prix, despite having an ankle broken in two places and a broken big toe, incurred during a fall earlier in the week. He is now 10 points clear of Kernan in the League rankings, as a result.

With several of his Equitation School team-mates on international duty in Gijon, Spain, this week, it was the lesser-known Kerry-born Lt. Brian Curran-Curnane who kept the Army flag flying today, taking a respectable second place with the Minister for Defence's Cloverhill gelding <River Boyne>.

Ronan Clarke, Eddie Moloney, and Neal Fearon accounted for the rest of the top six places, though only four riders made it through to the jump-off amongst the sunshine and showers at Cavan.

Harry Marshall, also a member of the victorious Nations Cup team at Gijon on Saturday, now sees himself relegated to fourth in the Kerrygold League during his absence, a situation he will no doubt be keen to rectify upon his return.

RESULT: Cavan Equestrian Centre 1.40m Grand Prix Sunday 31st August
2003. Sponsored by Cavan Equestrian Centre
Prize Money: 3,000 Euro

1) OUT OF TOUCH (Owner James Kernan); James Kernan Faults 0/0 Time 54.24
2) RIVER BOYNE (Owner Minister for Defence); Lt. Brian Curran-Curnane Faults 0/3 Time 57.84
3) ZARA'S PRIDE (Owner Edmund Simpson); Peter Smyth Faults 0/4 Time 43.49
4) ATLANTICO 26 (Owner Ronan Clarke); Ronan Clarke Faults 0/8 Time 50.15
5) DRUMAGOLAND FLIGHT (Owner Samuel McQuade); Neal Fearon Faults 4/- Time 78.65
6) KILMOYLAN WARRIOR (Owner John Widger); Eddie Moloney Faults 4/- Time 78.86

35 starters, 4 riders through to jump-off

KERRYGOLD GRAND PRIX Rankings after Cavan Equestrian Centre 1.40m Grand
Prix Sunday 31st August 2003

1) Peter Smyth 91 points
2) James Kernan 81 points
3) Lt. David O'Brien 77 points
4) Harry Marshall 74 points
5) Shane Breen 55.5 points
6) Andrew Dunlop 51 points

http://www.horsesport.ie

.