Damien Griffin took his second consecutive victory to date in the Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix League when victorious with Tabby at Ballivor.
Triumphant on home ground in Ballinasloe last month, Griffin showed the same form to secure the sixth leg of the league, taking the majority of the €5,000 purse sponsored by Ballivor Horse Show.
The final rider in an eight horse decider, Griffin had the measure of the time to beat and came home with a comfortable margin when recording a fault free time of 34.10 seconds.
Pamela Donaghy’s 10-year-old Captain Clover-sired Tabby has been a reliable performer for Griffin. Recent results include the aforementioned win at Ballinasloe while last week the pair featured with a top five finish in the €25,000 Mullingar International Grand Prix.
Griffin said, “It’s so important for us professional riders to have a top horse. Tabby comes out every week trying his hardest for me. I’ve had him from a seven-year-old and I’ve never looked back – he has been a fantastic horse for me.”
On Sunday’s result Griffin commented, “It was brilliant to win today (Sunday) on the back of the result from Mullingar. He has just been great this year, the harder you push him the more careful he is.”
Young rider Jack Ryan took the runner-up position with the Glidawn Diamond-sired Cavalier Teaca having established a lead just prior to Griffin, clear in 36.22. Featuring regularly in the Spring Tour earlier in the year this pair have also booked their ticket to the Dublin Horse Show in the young rider divisions qualifying for the 1.35/1.40m class.
Edward Doyle had set an early time to beat with Derryinver Luxury Cruise across the line in 37.01. A relatively new combination, Doyle and the Lux Z-sired stallion have already been making their presence felt featuring in Ballinasloe and the international classes at Mullingar.
Vincent Byrne was the only rider to make it double handed into the clocked round and filled fourth and sixth position in the line-up.
Taking the green rosette aboard Mr. Rockefeller with a faultless round in 37.27, Byrne proved out of luck with Caugherty incurring a single error but logged a fast time of 34.90. Jenni Lamminen was the only other double clear on the day. Riding Lowhill Glenard Lad, Lamminen aimed for a steady clear which she duly delivered in 44.93.
Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix League Ballivor Show 12th June 2016 Result
Sponsored by Ballivor Horse Show
- Tabby Damien Griffin 0/0/34.10
- Cavalier Teaca Jack Ryan 0/0/36.22
- Derryinver Luxury Cruise/ Edward Jnr Doyle 0/0/37.01
- Mr Rockefeller Vincent Byrne 0/0/37.27
- Lowhill Glenard Lad Jenni Lamminen 0/0/44.93
- Caugherty Vincent Byrne 0/4/34.90