Galway rider and league sponsor Sven Hadley took victory by the slimmest of margins at the Connacht Grand Prix in County Galway.
Hosted at the Ballinasloe Showgrounds, the three days of top class showjumping at the weekend concluded with Hadley taking the €3000 Grand Prix by just six seconds from Mayo’s Gabriel Slattery.
Hadley clocked a clear round in 41.22 on the Hadley Sport Horse-owned Quanbell, while Slattery partnered the seven-year-old grey mare Kashino, owned by Jackie Lee of Headford, and finished runner up in a time of 41.28. Shane Goggins, aboard Greenfort Newmarket K owned by Emma MacNamara, took third, again clear in a time of 42.79.
The Margaret Griffin Memorial Cup was also presented to Sven Hadley by the Griffin family as the winner of the 1.35 Connaught Grand Prix.
The Hygeia Connaught Development League 1.15m class was won by Cian O’Connell on the O’Conn Stables-owned Nice Girl Sally, while Darren Hopkins on the Leo and John Carey-owned Furisto Cruise won the 1.25m Eurohome.ie Step Up Connaught League Class.
The €5,000 National Grand Prix was won by Darragh Ryan when triumphing with the Paul Carr-owned Zuidam. In the 1.50m TRM/Horseware New Heights Champion Series with a prize fund of €10,000, Greg Broderick dominated with a one-two victory, setting an unbeatable target of 35.54 seconds aboard Chinook II, while also well clear of the pack in the runner-up position with Charmeur, in a time of 37.18. Galway rider Sven Hadley also collected the prize for4 Leading Rider over the three days.
