Reigning TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League Champion, Greg Broderick, got his season off to a flying start at Coilog on Saturday riding Rincarina, while recent Spring Tour Champion, Daniel Coyle was triumphant at Thomastown on Sunday with Athlet Van'T Lozerhof.
In yesterdays second leg at Coilog, Broderick steered Noel Cawley's Cruising mare, Rincarina to the second Grand Prix win of her career having won last year at Kildare International to contribute towards Broderick's title. The Tipperary rider was taking part in only his second Grand Prix of the season having been curtailed by injury for the previous weeks which forced him to miss the opening leg at last week's Horseware Louth County Show.
However, the enforced absence did little to stop the current title holder as he stormed to victory in a very competitive class stopping the clock in a time of 34.61 as he goes out on the title race once more.
Joan Greene was the rider to chase Broderick and with the advantage of having two horses in the jump off, Greene managed to slot into second and third with Diamonds for Douglas and the classy Biscaya D'Eversem.
Kildare based Edward Doyle and his home bred stallion, Samgemjee put in yet another admirable performance taking fourth in a time of 37.53. The pair were in contention in last weeks opening round of the TRM/Horseware Premier Series only to knock the final fence and there will surely be another win in the son of Ramiro B to add to the win in last year's Blessington Grand Prix.
Several Young Riders have hit the headlines on several occasions already this year and Mark Murphy is another one into the placings taking fifth with Cruisings Micky Finn while Derek McConnell steered his own Oak Park Clover into sixth.
Meanwhile this afternoon at the Thomastown Horse Show, current Spring Tour Champion, Daniel Coyle, along with fellow Northern rider, Harry Marshall swept the boards taking the first four places between them in todays third leg.
Riding Conor Coyle's Athlet Van'T Lozerhof, Coyle was winning his seventh Grand Prix so far this season by just pipping Harry Marshall to the win. Coyle also took fourth with the very promising Javas Wild Child and they look to be a formidable combination.
Marshall did all he could in chase of Coyle, however the winning time of 37.86 proved just beyond him as he steered Whisper into second breaking the beam at 38.41. Marshall also took third with Kingdom in a time of 38.73.
Tholm Keane came closest to the two Ulster men with Warrenstown You 2 recording a time of 39.98. This pair were the winners of the opening leg of the League at last week's Horseware Louth County Show.
In an almost clean sweep for the Ulster Region, Frank Curran took sixth with New World.
The next leg of the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League takes place at Barnadown, Co Wexford, next Sunday.
TRM/HORSEWARE NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE
CoilOg
€4,000 kindly sponsored by Coilog Catering 4 Youn
1st Greg Broderick/Rincarina 0/0 34.61
2nd Joan Greene/Diamonds for Douglas 0/0 36.00
3rd Joan Greene/Biscaya D'Eversem 0/0 36.31
4th Edward Doyle/Samgemjee 0/0 37.53
5th Mark Murphy /Cruisings Micky Finn 0/0 38.55
6th Derek McConnell/Oak Park Clover 0/0 39.56
TRM/HORSEWARE NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE
Thomastown
€4,000 kindly sponsored by Thomastown Horse show & Ballygallon Stud
1st Daniel Coyle/Athlet Van'T Lozerhof 0/0 37.86
2nd Harry Marshall/Whisper 0/0 38.41
3rd Harry Marshall/Kingdom 0/0 38.73
4th Daniel Coyle/Javas Wild Child 0/0 39.18
5th Tholm Keane/Warrenstown You 2 0/0 39.98
6th Frank Curran/New World 0/0 40.95