Show Jumping - Kerrygold National Grand Prix League 2003 O'Brien Clinches First Of Stepaside Grands Prix

LT. DAVID O'BRIEN may have had to pull <Boherdeal Clover> out of the Nations Cup in Rome earlier this month because of the horse's aversion to water, but the Clover Hill stallion showed everyone a clean pair of heels at Stepaside Grand Prix today (Saturday), and romped home with nearly two seconds to spare.

Surprise of the show may well have been Kilkenny's 17 yr old Gerard O'Neill, who took Fourth with <Duc Du Moyon> in his 2003 Grand Prix debut, having been lent the horse by owner Cian O'Connor, with a view to progressing the combination to European Championship standard. Meanwhile, the Army consolidated its strong league position when Capt. Gerry Flynn took Fifth on <Rincoola Abu>.

A total of 81 riders and horses lined out in the sunshine at the popular Stepaside Show in Co. Dublin for the 1.40m Leddy Family Partnership Grand Prix, which is part of the Kerrygold Grand Prix Show Jumping League.

With rivalry starting to build in the League table, some of the country's top international riders had entered for today's Grand Prix, including Conor Swail, Lt. David O'Brien, and Capt. Gerry Flynn, as well as League leader Clem McMahon. Many of the riders will also do battle tomorrow (Sunday) at the same venue, when the 1m50 Super League Grand Prix takes place, while some of the more serious contenders will also travel to Mullingar's Grand Prix on Bank Holiday Monday to try to
clock up further valuable points.

SHOW JUMPING RESULT: €3000 Leddy Family Partnership 1m40 Grand Prix,
Stepaside Show, Co. Dublin
Saturday, May 31, 2003

1) BOHERDEAL CLOVER (Owner Minister for Defence): Lt. David O'Brien
Faults 0/0 Time 32.18
2) QUILETTO (Owner Noel Kavanagh); Michael Kearins Faults 0/0 Time 34.35
3) CRUZ FOREVER (Owner Andrew Dunlop); Andrew Dunlop Faults 0/0 Time
34.81
4) DUC DU MOYON (Owner Cian O'Connor and Kedrah House Stud); Gerard
O'Neill Faults 0/0 Time 37.80
5) IMPACT (Owner Patrick Walsh); Louise Walsh Faults 0/0 Time 39.12
6) RINCOOLA ABU (Owner Minister for Defence); Capt. Gerry Flynn Faults
0/4 Time 31.50

KERRYGOLD GRAND PRIX League Rankings after Leddy Family Partnership
Grand Prix, Steapaside, Co. Dublin
1) Clem McMahon 20 points
2) Lt. Shane Carey 19 points
3) Andrew Dunlop 18 points
4) Michael Kearins 16 points
5) Cian O'Connor 13 points
6) Capt. Gerry Flynn 12 points

http://www.horsesport.ie

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