Duffy wins at Claregalway

THE 11th and final leg of the Olympic Saddlery Connacht Grand Prix League took place at Duffy’s Equestrian Centre in Claregalway at the weekend.
An enthusiastic crowd gathered to watch the outcome as the overall winner could come from any one of the four grouped tightly together at the top of the leaderboard, namely 16-year-old Michael Duffy (Turloughmore), Gabriel Slattery (Irishtown), Stephen Egan (Ballina) and Shane Goggins from Claremorris. Of the 57 who jumped Brendan Duffy’s exacting course, just 15 came faultlessly through to the jump-off against the clock and the consistent point-scorers throughout the league were there. Michael Duffy had Shalom Hip Hop, Ali G and his three-time-winner Killard Horizon, Gabriel Slattery had Ballintougher Bud and the ever-consistent Captain’s Magic Touch, on-form Rachel Creaven had Charlotte’s Flight and Cool Diamond Ruby, Richard Kerins (Glendavarra Brilliant and Starboard), Shane Goggins (Black Velvet Touch), Cormac Rafferty (Taylor Made), Stephen Egan (Le Crunch), Thomas O’Brien (Valentino T), John McManus (Divo) and the gallant Jessica Burke with Woodfield Samenco were the contenders. Some had a fence down and some had two but seven remained faultless and time sorted them out. Stephen Egan and Le Crunch, for the second time in the series, rose to the occasion with 45.99 seconds, Gabriel Slattery and Captain’s Magic Touch slotted into second (47.20) and Shane Goggins (48.28) was third.
Leaderboard-points-totting revealed Michael Duffy and Killard Horizon to be the overall winners with 40.5 points, while very narrowly beaten into second place was Gabriel Slattery and Captain’s Magic Touch with 38. Stephen Egan and Le Crunch with 36 points came third. Michael Duffy, at 16, is the youngest Connacht Grand Prix League winner since its inception six years ago and won three of this year’s legs on Killard Horizon. Gabriel Slattery, is the runner-up for two years in-a-row.

Results
1. Kieran Rowley’s Le Crunch (Stephen Egan); 2. John Byrne’s Captain’s Magic Touch (Gabriel Slattery); 3. PJ Goggins’ Black Velvet Touch (Shane Goggins).
Overall Olympic Connacht Grand Prix League Result 2011:
1. Michael Duffy (Killard Horizon); 2. Gabriel Slattery (Captain’s Magic Touch); 3. Stephen Egan (Le Crunch).