The long journey to Omagh show proved to be a profitable one for Nicola Fitzgibbon as she took the honours in the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix last Friday (July 2nd). Riding Lady Georgina Forbes’ Poker Des Dames, the former National Champion lodged the winning round clear in 39.35 seconds and as a result took home the lion’s share of the €4,000 on offer in the Tyrone Farming Society sponsored class. 

Speaking after the win, Fitzgibbon said, “ It was a technical track and as a result it demanded some careful riding. I went in for a steady clear and it just worked out that I was the fastest of the six in the jump-off. I went to Omagh really with the Premier Series in mind and I was using the Grand Prix as a warm-up. It was great the way it turned out”.
 
Poker Des Dames, a 12-year-old gelding by Nabab De Reve and out of Ivoire Du Roc has been a successful mount for Fitzgibbon with a series of good results, which includes third place in the Jumping in the City series at Limerick.                  
 
Not only did Fitzgibbon take the honours in the feature class she also rode to victory in the 1.30m class aboard Westland Ruby. This completes a great week for the Kildare rider having also finished second in the RDS seven/eight year-old qualifier at the Meadows with Castleforbes Tina.
 
The runner-up spot belonged to Fermanagh native Catherine Thornton, who scorched home with nothing to add with Derryinver Luxury Cruise in 39.51 seconds.
 
Keen to clock up a win, fellow Fermanagh rider Gabriel Tunney, didn't put a foot wrong with Lavish, but a slower time of 41.54 proved only good enough for third.
 
Emily Turkington lodged one of the quickest times of the class with Willem in 38.32 seconds, but it came at a heavy price as she came home carrying four faults for eventual fourth.
 
Winner at Charleville last week, Darryl Walker was looking to add to his leaderboard tally. Although he set off in a determined pace with Cushions, things didn’t go as he expected and eight faults in 37.06 seconds meant he finished down the line in fifth place.
 
Frank Curran suffered a similar fate with New World but a slower time of 39.33 saw him finish one place behind Walker in the line-up.