McMahon snatches Blessington Premier prize
MONAGHAN'S Clem McMahon snatched Blessington's big Premier Series Grand Prix at Kill International in Co. Kildare today with a superb double clear on May Scott's 'Cobold'.
The G&K Building Company-sponsored Grand Prix, which carried a total prize purse of 15,000 euro, saw 12 combinations through to the jump-off from a field of 30 starters, but the 30 year-old Clones rider set the pace from early in the jump-off, and proved uncatchable on Tom Holden's course, even by the formidable Francis Connors and his Grand Prix specialist 'Merlin's Magic', who had to make do with runner-up spot at Kill today.
Afterwards, winner Cobold's owner May Scott from Derry, said: "He is jumping brilliantly, and he's only eight. I'm delighted with today's win, and I really feel there's a great partnership between
Clem and this horse."
McMahon and Connors set such a scorching pace that third-placed Greg Broderick with 'Quarrier Z' was more than four seconds adrift of both, while close on Broderick's heels came Trevor Breen and 'Old Town Katie' to take fourth overall.
Richie Moloney had the unusual distinction of being the first to jump in the competition, first to get a clear round, and first to go in the jump-off, but a fifth place on 'Oferro' at the finish disrupted
the pattern. Darragh Kenny and the talented 'Mullaghdrin Gold Rain' also set a very fast jump-off time, but dropped one fence to finish in sixth.
Today's result in the Blessington Premier Grand Prix has consolidated Clem McMahon at the head of the Premier Grand Prix Series rankings with 29 points to his credit, while Greg Broderick holds onto second place with 19 points, with Francis Connors in third position on 16.
SHOW JUMPING RESULT - PREMIER GRAND PRIX SERIES
sponsored by Atec Trailers (Irl) Ltd., and the Show Jumping
Association of Ireland
RESULT: BLESSINGTON 1.45m GRAND PRIX
Sunday July 1, 2007
Venue: Kill International. Co. Kildare
Sponsor: G&K Building Company
Prize Money: 15,000 euro
1) Cobold (Owner: May Scott) Clement McMahon Faults 0/0 Time 34.90
2) Merlin's Magic (Owner: Highfort Stud) Francis Connors Faults 0/0
Time 35.36
3) Quarrier Z (Owner: Austin Broderick) Greg Broderick Faults 0/0
Time 39.66
4) Old Town Katie (Owner: M& P Coffey) Trevor Breen Faults 0/0 Time
40.54
5) Oferro (Owner: Richard Moloney) Richard Moloney Faults 0/0 Time 43.68
6) Mullaghdrin Gold Rain; (Owner: Gina Prescott) Darragh Kenny Faults
0/4 Time 36.32
30 starters, 12 through to jump-off
PREMIER GRAND PRIX SERIES STANDINGS
after BLESSINGTON Grand Prix
Sunday July 1, 2007
1) Clement McMahon 29
2) Greg Broderick 19
3) Francis Connors 16
=4) Cian O'Connor, Keith Shore, Stephen Smith 10
7) Paul O'Shea 9
=8) Neal Fearon Linda Russell 8
=10) Tholm Keane, Conor Swail 7
