Though only 17 combinations started in Saturday's show jumping Grand Prix at the well-attended County Clare Show, not one managed to produce a clear round first time out on James Tarrant's course, most falling foul of either the third fence or the combination.
But Brendan Ryan and Tomas Ryan's 'Coille Mor Lad' did the business in the jump-off, and a clear round in a time of 33.20 was more than enough to secure the trophy.
Afterwards a delighted Ryan said: 'It's only my second Grand Prix on this horse, who was bought as an eight year-old after having spent most of his life hunting in England. He was originally bought as a foal at Ballinasloe by an English couple.
'Now he's back in Ireland and we have spent a year on him and seem to have brought him around successfully.'
Ryan, who is from Tipperary, was over three seconds clear of runner-up Greg Broderick on Austin Broderick's 'Pikolino' while the Minister for Defence's 'Kilteely' was piloted into third place by Lt Michael Kelly from the Army Equitation School on a zero jump-off score.
SHOW JUMPING RESULT - SHOW JUMPING IRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE 2008
1) Coille Mor Lad (Owner: Tomas Ryan); Brendan Ryan Faults 4/0 Time 33.20
2) Pikolino (Owner: Austin Broderick); Greg Broderick Faults 4/0 Time 36.26
3) Kilteely (Owner: Minister For Defence); Lt. Michael Kelly Faults
8/0 Time 36.25
4) Killerisk Flight (Owner: Tom Counihan); Maura Counihan Jnr (YR) Faults 4/4 Time 41.22
5) PMR Caballero (Owner: Paula Rafter); Gary Quinn Faults 8/4 Time 43.70
6) Dutch Uncle (Owner: D.J. O'Sullivan); D.J. O'Sullivan Faults 6/8
Time 39.42
17 starters, seven through to jump-off
SHOW JUMPING IRELAND NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE 2008 standings after County Clare Show Grand Prix
Saturday July 12, 2008
1) Tholm Keane - 38
2) Francis Connors -35
3) Nicola Fitzgibbon - 26
4) Greg Broderick - 24
=5) Gary Quinn and Olive Clarke - 21
