Only 12 points separate top two in the Boswell League after Millstreet Grand Prix
Tholm Keane narrowed the Boswell League leadership gap on fellow Waterford rider Francis Connors with a split-second win at Millstreet Grand Prix yesterday on Ronan Tynan's Redmills Warrenstown You 2.
After yesterday's victory only 12 points separate the two men, and Connors was unlucky today not to add points, with both his horses failing to make the second round.
Following his win, the jubilant 31 year-old Keane said: 'I am delighted, absolutely delighted, with the horse today. I hope it gives Ronan a big lift.'
A very strong course built by Alan Wade and Tony Hurley in Millstreet's sand arena whittled a starting field of 65 down to just seven for the jump-off today, with the first 33 horses faulting, and Greg Broderick at No. 34 jumping the first clear, going on to claim second place overall with a second clear round on Quarrier Z.
A large crowd braved the rain to see Trevor Breen and Always Cullohill become the only other combination to go clear in the jump-off, with fourth-placed Clem McMahon and Cobold picking up an uncharacteristic four faults, as did Conor O'Regan and the diminutive mare Solerina, who finished in fifth. Andrew Bourns took sixth at Millstreet with Credit Cruise, also lowering a single pole.
With Keane and Connors battling it out for the Boswell League title, there'll be a lot of work now to do for third-placed Greg Broderick, who lags a significant 32 points behind Keane.
However, those closely following this battle will soon have to consult their calculators, as under league rules 11 Grand Prix rounds plus the final competition count towards the total of each rider's points at the end of the season. If the rider competes in more than eleven league rounds, the rounds with the least points gained will be dropped from the rider's total points.
SHOW JUMPING RESULT - BOSWELL EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL GRAND PRIX SERIES RESULT: Millstreet Horse Show Grand Prix, Friday August 17, 2007 Venue: Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co. Cork Sponsor: Millstreet Horse Show Prize Money: 4,000 euro
1) Redmills Warrenstown You 2 (Owner: Ronan Tynan) Tholm Keane Faults 0/0 Time 42.42 2) Quarrier Z (Owner: Austin Broderick) Greg Broderick Faults 0/0 Time 42.51 3) Always Cullohill (Owner: James Costigan) Trevor Breen Faults 0/0 Time 44.48 4) Cobold (Owner: May Scott) Clement McMahon Faults 0/4 Time 40.40 5) Solerina (Owner: Francis O'Regan) Conor O'Regan Faults 0/4 Time 43.58 6) Credit Cruise (Owner: Deirdre Bourns) Andrew Bourns Faults 0/4 Time 45.03
65 starters, seven through to jump-off
BOSWELL EQUESTRIAN GRAND PRIX SERIES STANDINGS after MILLSTREET Horse Show Grand Prix Friday August 17, 2007
1) Francis Connors - 87 2) Tholm Keane - 75 3) Greg Broderick - 43 4) Clem McMahon - 39 5) Darragh Kenny - 37 6) Trevor Breen - 34 =7) Conor Swail, Brendan Ryan, Cian O'Connor - 30 10) Capt Shane Carey - 28
