Donegal rider, Kenneth Graham recorded his second win in the SJI National Grand Prix series when he claimed victory at Omagh Show today (30th June). Riding the William Lapsley owned George (IHB) he took home the winners share of the €5,000 on offer.
This is the second win for the combination in this competitive series having claimed the opening leg at Louth County Show in April. The pairing then went on to take the runner-up place in Mullingar International. Graham also took eighth place in Omagh with Democrat when they recorded four faults in the first round in 80.45 seconds.
Bred by G Gormley, George is a 14 year-old ISH gelding by Touchdown by the Cloverhill sired mare Solas Dubh. The combination had just returned from Hickstead CSI4* where they put in a solid performance. They recorded their best result when finishing 11th in The Bunn Leisure Derby Tankard. Graham also took fourth place in the The Stoner Jewellers Vase aboard Lyrical. This year under Graham’s command, George got off to a good start when they took sixth place in the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour in Cavan. Last February the combination were in the ribbons at Olivia with a series of good results at CSI3* level which has not doubt set them up for a competitive season at home.
The class which was partly sponsored by Dillon Bass Ltd, Powers Whiskey and The Silverbirch Hotel saw 27 starters go to post.
With riders facing a challenging course, just three combinations delivered foot perfect rounds first time out, but all three combinations repeated this performance second time out as they kept everything in place.
Fastest of the three double clears was Kenneth Graham and George when they galloped home in 44.54 seconds.
John Floody took a more cautious approach with Bronson De Reve and it paid off as he clocked a clear in 47.10 seconds for the runner-up place.
Kildare rider, Sean Monaghan put his first points on the board when he took third place with Caius when he recorded the last of the double clears in 50.74 seconds.
Currently lying third on the overall leaderboard, James Hogg added to his tally when finishing in fourth place. Riding Always On Mind Mind, he was fastest of the fourth faulters in the first round in 74.91 seconds.
Tyrone native, Jonathan Smyth and Charlton Clio also had an unlucky four faults, albeit in the slower time of 76.45 seconds for fifth place. This was the second good result for Smyth having finished second in the round at Portmore with Ping Ball.
Making the long journey from Wicklow paid off for Max O’Reilly Hyland as he also put his first points on the board when he took sixth place with Ahmed Du Calvaire. The combination had one on the floor in the first round in 79.28 seconds.
Results
1st:Kenneth Graham/ George (IHB) 0/0 44.54
2nd:John Floody/ Bronson De Reve 0/0 47.10
3rd:Sean Monaghan/ Caius 0/0 50.74
4th:James Hogg/Always On My Mind 4- 74.91
5th:Jonathan Smyth/Charlton Clio 4-76.45
6th:Max O'Reilly Hyland/ Ahmed Du Calvaire 4-79.28
7th:Robert Harrison/ARD Leaderman 4-79.38
8th:Kenneth Graham/ Democrat HSI 4-80.45
9th:Kelda Morgan/Orbiting 4-80.98
10th: Shannon McKenzie/ Bens Lady Lux 8-80.45