Ballivor-born Gerard Clarke won his first ever senior Grand Prix on Sunday at the age of 17, and propelled himself to joint third place
in the National Grand Prix League standings for 2008.
Riding his own Kellswater Crimson the 17-year-old rider was one of just five through to the jump-off at Cavan Equestrian Centre,
and held off the other four contenders to take the winner's laurels by just one-and-half seconds.
Afterwards Gerard said: 'You don't know how delighted I am. This is only the horse's fourth competition at 1m40. He's an eight-year-old by Cruising and was bought at Cavan Sales two years ago. And this is my own first Grand Prix win. This has been a terrific competition for us both.'
With these points, Gerard's win gives him a joint third place in the
Grand Prix League alongside Harry Marshall and Gary Quinn.
Nicola Fitzgibbon was runner-up at Cavan, with Puissance and now holds first place in the league, while Glen Leddy slotted
Verdi van Paemel into third.
Sunday's competition was the third in the 2008 National Grand Prix Series, sponsored by Show Jumping Ireland.
SHOW JUMPING RESULT - SHOW JUMPING IRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE 2008
RESULT: The Cavan Equestrian Centre Grand Prix
Part of The ShowjumpingIreland National Grand Prix League
1) Kellswater Crimson (Owner: Gerard Clarke); Gerard Clarke Faults 0/0 Time 43.60
2) Puissance (NHS) (Owner: Nicola FitzGibbon); Nicola FitzGibbon
Faults 0/0 Time 45.00
3) Verdi Van Paemel (Owner: G & M Leddy); Glen Leddy Faults 0/0 Time 49.06
4) The Butlers Pantry Spitfield (Owner: John Melia); Olive Clarke
Faults 0/4 Time 43.80
5) Omard Cavalier (Owner: Nicholas Fitzgibbon); Nicola Fitzgibbon
Faults 0/4 Time 47.04
6) Le Crunch (Owner: Kieran Rowley); Stephen Egan Faults 1/-
33 starters, five through to jump-off
SHOW JUMPING IRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE 2008 standings after Cavan Equestrian Centre Grand Prix
1) Nicola Fitzgibbon - 16
2) Olive Clarke - 12
=3) Harry Marshall, Gary Quinn, Gerard Clarke - 10
=6) Glen Leddy, Peter Smyth, Tholm Keane - 8
