Paddy O'Donnell was today crowned the TRM/Horseware Premier Series Champion and in doing so is also crowned the National Show Jumping Champion for 2013 at Coilog in County Kildare.
In one of the most thrilling and competitive Premier Series Grand Prix, O'Donnell and Harristown Princess came out on top when it mattered most earlier today.
Nine horse and rider combinations made it into the second round in the Coilog Equestrian sponsored €10,000 Grand Prix over Tom Holden's testing track.
The Waterford rider was the quickest in the first round on the Clover Flush mare, Harristown Princess and got the best draw for the second round, going last of the nine.
League Leader, Peter Smyth put plenty of pressure on those coming after him as he brought two horses, Corrib House and Victoria Rose, forward for the deciding round while Edward Doyle, who was lying in second place going into today's deciding round, incurred four faults to keep him out of the Jump Off and so kept him from winning the two titles.
In a blistering second round, Eddie Moloney held the early advantage with Chatsworth Dan having gone first and set the standard at 45.32.
Capt. Michael Kelly and Dollanstown tried to bridge the gap on the reigning Premier Series Champion but had to settle for eventual fifth place in a time of 47.82.
TRM/Horseware Premier Series Leader, Peter Smyth went with the first of his, Corrib House but Smyth was merely making sure of a Clear round as he stopped the clock well off the place in 56.61. The pair eventually finished in sixth place.
Alexander Butler, Gerard Clarke and Capt. Brian Curran Cournane all had a single error in the second round to keep them out of the top six and so the class was left up to Peter Smyth, Greg Broderick and the subsequent winner, Paddy O'Donnell.
Smyth was the first of the trio to enter the arena with Victoria Rose and the pair set a extremely fast time to shoot to the head of the class in 45.09.
There didn't appear to be much of a margin left by Smyth, however, somehow, Greg Broderick managed to better his time with Noel Cawley's Rincarina. Broderick kept some very tight lines over the middle part of the course and broke the beam at 43.98 to go to the lead.
O'Donnell then needed to win the class to be crowned Champion, as with 4 points separating him and Smyth, the win was what was required to take the Titles and that was exactly what they did.
The combination were winners of the opening round of the TRM/Horseware Premier Series at Louth County and with an exceptionally fast round this afternoon, when it mattered most. Paddy O'Donnell and Harristown Princess crossed the line in 42.39 to win the class and take both Championship Titles. Throwing his hat in the air upon the annoucement, O'Donnell and Thomas Power's Harristown Princess left the arena to a rapturous reception from the spectators.
As the TRM/Horseware Premier Series and National Show Jumping Champion, Paddy O'Donnell collects a cheque for €5,000 while Harristown Princess's owner, Thomas Power will be presented with a hand commissioned charcoal drawing by Equine artist Paddy Lennon and that will be presented at the Show Jumpers Awards Ball.
So this concludes the TRM/Horseware Premier Series for 2013 and with a new Champion in Paddy O'Donnell and Harristown Princess who won by just 0.5 points in one of the most exciting renewals of the Premier Series.
The outdoor season comes to a close in two weeks time with the conclusion of the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League at Barnadown on Saturday 7th September.
TRM/HORSEWARE PREMIER SERIES FINAL
COILOG EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
€10,000 KINDLY SPONSORED BY COILOG EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
1st Paddy O'Donnell/Harristown Princess 0/0 42.39
2nd Greg Broderick/Rincarina 0/0 43.98
3rd Peter Smyth/Victoria Rose 0/0 45.09
4th Eddie Moloney/Chatsworth Dan 0/0 45.32
5th Capt. Michael Kelly/Dollanstown 0/0 47.28
6th Peter Smyth/Corrib House 0/0 56.61
9 in the second round.