Waterford native Paddy O'Donnell claimed the opening round of the TRM/Horseware Premier Series at the Horseware Louth County Show.
Riding the very consistent Harristown Princess, the combination took their second Premier Series Grand Prix of their careers having won at the Omagh Show 12 months ago. The pair have been a very successful partnership taking several Grand Prix throughout with todays win ranking among the most prestigious wins claimed by the Tramore rider.
Tom Holden built a strong track for the opening round in the Series that saw 7 combinations through to the second round along with 3 combinations on 4 faults among the top 25%.
Alexander Butler was the pathfinder with the Ringwood Construction's Riverside Ace carrying four faults into the second round but made no mistake second round and stopped the clock in 46.39 to set the standard.
Several other combinations set out to beat the time set by Butler but faultered along the way and it wasn't until former World Champion Dermott Lennon and Vampire entered the ring. Although they put a pole on the ground they had done enough to go into the lead with a time of 45.05.
The pair didn't stay there for long however as Paddy O'Donnell put in a blistering display to go into the lead.
Edward Doyle was another who set out to beat O'Donnell and claim his first Premier Series with Samjemgee and appeared to be up on time early on in the track but approaching the last the pair were slightly down on the clock when taking down the back rail.
The final pairings of Frank Curran and New World took fifth with a fence on the floor and with the last combination of Alexander Butler and Will Wimble having an early fence down that granted the win to O'Donnell.
So with the early lead going to Paddy O'Donnell at the annual curtain raiser at the Horseware Louth County Show.
The next round of the Premier Series now takes place at the Mullingar International Show at the June Bank Holiday weekend while the second and third legs of the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League take centre stage at Coilog next Saturday and the Thomastown Show on Sunday.
TRM/Horseware Premier Series
€10,000 kindly sponsored by Horseware Ireland
1st Paddy O'Donnell/Harristown Princess 0/0 (0) 45.82
2nd Dermott Lennon/ Vampire 0/4 (4) 45.05
3rd Alexander Butler/Riverside Ace 4/0 (4) 46.39
4th Edward Doyle/ Samgemjee 0/4 (4) 46.77
5th Frank Curran/ New World 0/4 (4) 46.84
6th Alexander Butler/ Will Wimble 0/4 (4) 50.37
10 through to Round Two.