Liam O’Meara claimed the sixteenth leg of the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix league with Mr. Coolcaum. In a close fought contest with Edward Doyle, O’Meara managed to find the edge, over two seconds faster to clinch the win in the €5,000 Friends of South County Grand Prix.
O’Meara and Doyle dominated the line-up filling the top four placings but it was the Co. Tipperary rider’s time of 37.15 seconds aboard the 12-year-old Coolcaum Hill-sired Mr. Coolcaum which proved best on the day.
Consistent throughout the league O’Meara has already recorded one win with Mr. Coolcaum, victorious back in May at Cavan EC as well as notching up numerous placings. Saturday’s result sees O’Meara move up the leader board with only three legs remaining to decide the title.
Also helping O’Meara to accumulate the points that see him in third place currently is Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh. The Jacomar-sired gelding took the yellow rosette on this occasion crossing the line in a fault free time of 39.36.
Edward Doyle had set the time to beat with Derryinver Luxury Cruise at 39.32. Early in the clocked round, Doyle looked to have done enough but was relegated to the runner-up position at the last moment.
Doyle had made a decent attempt at his own time with his second mount Chirokko M, slotting the Diamant de Semilly-sired stallion into eventual fourth position when stopping the clock at 39.55.
Young rider Jessica Kuehnle proved next fastest on the day with the eight-year-old Lupicor-sired Tullibards Bennys Legacy completing in 41.35. This pair impressed last week when finishing fourth in the 1.40m Young Rider Championship at the Dublin Horse Show.
Taking the final position in the line-up was Lieutenant David Power. Riding Galway Bay Easy Touch in his Grand Prix debut, Power supplied a faultless round in a time of 46.46
TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League South County Show 30th July 2016 Result**
Sponsored by Friends of South County
1. Mr. Coolcaum Liam O’Meara 0/0 37.15
2. Derryinver Luxury Cruise Edward Doyle 0/0 39.32
3. Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh Liam O’Meara 0/0 39.36
4. Chirokko M Edward Doyle 0/0 39.55
5. Tullibards Bennys Legacy Jessica Kuehnle 0/0 41.35
6. Galway Bay Easy Touch Lt. David Power 0/0 46.46