Captain Geoff Curran scored the concluding victory of this season’s New Heights Champions Series triumphing in Saturday’s grand finale at the Irish Breeders Classic Show at Barnadown Showjumping with Dollanstown.
Curran may have taken the win on the day but the spotlight remained firmly on Greg Broderick as the overall winner of the Series and the 2017 National Champion. Broderick dominated in the Series from its opening round with his two horses Charmeur and Chinook II.
A win at Louth County was followed up with a one-two triumph at Ballinasloe as well as two more victories in Cork Summer Show and Balmoral. Inclusive of his wins, Broderick placed in nine of the ten legs of the New Heights Champions Series.
Broderick came forward to the final as the confirmed winner with Nicholas Butler taking the overall runner-up position after a consistent showing with Vimminka over the Series. Despite the win being assured Broderick’s competitive edge remained razor sharp with the Co. Tipperary rider claiming two placings in the top six to finish the Series in style.
Tom Holden set the challenge for the 28 starting combinations with seven riders assured of a place in the timed decider. Of these Curran was the only one to supply a faultless round on both occasions, posting a time of 44.92 seconds with Dollanstown.
Curran has only taken over the ride on the 13-year-old Ard VDL Douglas sired gelding back in July and to date their best result is a third place finish in the Land Rover Puissance at the Dublin Horse Show.
Jenny Rankin took the runner-up spot on the day with Baccarat as the fastest four faulter. Coming forward with a zero score, Rankin had a single error in a time of 42.53. Rankin has enjoyed considerable success over the last number of weeks.
An impressive showing in the international classes in Dublin with Tullibards Bennys Legacy was followed up with a top five finish in the Under 25 class at the European Championships at Gothenburg last week.
Broderick proved next fastest on the day, only fractionally behind Rankin when crossing the line with Chinook II in 42.57. Broderick’s second mount, Charmeur, faulted on two occasions to finish further down the line-up in sixth when the clock read 44.21.
Edward Doyle and Alexander Butler filled the rest of the line-up. Butler was paired with the eight-year-old Zapatero VDL-sired Eldorado while Doyle rode Derryinver Luxury Cruise.
TRM/Horseware New Heights Championship Series Irish Breeders Classic Show at Barnadown Showjumping 2nd September 2017 Result
- Capt. Geoff Curran Dollanstown 0/0 - 44.92
- Jenny Rankin Baccarat 0/4 - 42.53
- Greg Broderick Chinook II 0/4 - 42.57
- Edward Doyle Derryinver Luxury Cruise 0/4 - 44.7
- Alexander Butler Eldorado 4/0 -48.00
- Greg Broderick Charmeur 0/8 - 44.21
- Francis Connors Centolina 4/4- 48.53
- Vincent Byrne Mr. Rockefeller 4 - 73.23
- Stacy Babes Camillo VDL 4- 76.99
- Sophie Dalm Remake Lande 4-77.42
Overall winner: Greg Broderick, Chinook 11
Overall second: Nicholas Butler, Vimminka
Breeders Prizes
1st: Hugh Fitzpatrick, Erne Ladygoldilocks
2nd: Ray O'Reilly, Hilton CMS Paparazzi
3rd: RP Kelly, Aldaluck