Floody maintains good form entering the home straight

Meath riders are still well placed for showjumping honours as the season heads towards a conclusion. John Floody leads the Kingsland Autumn Grand Prix with two wins and a series of placed efforts in the league. Floody won the opening round at Cavan in mid-September and now has his sights firmly on clinching his third title this year. Floody is determined to put his best foot forward as the league is now over the half way mark.  In the third round Floody had almost a second to spare over recent Alltech World Equestrian Games competitor Cian O’Connor in a time of 35.44 with Michael Smith’s ultra-consistent Larkhill Cruiser. Floody had to settle for second place at Killossery when crossing the line just a second and a half behind the winner, but extended his lead. His closest rival, Peter Smyth, trails by six points. The final round will take place in Cavan on Sunday 5th December. The Meath rider claimed the Chippison Spring Tour earlier this year and then won the inaugural Leinster Development League. O’ Connor and Alexander Butler kept the Irish flag flying at St Lo and Caen in France. Butler put in a strong performance to take fourth place with Aileen McDermott’s Kilcor Amber in the 1.30 metre speed class. O’Connor, one of seven double clear rounds from the 47-strong start list, was third in the Grand Prix qualifier at Caen with the 11-year-old gelding Splendor, which he owns jointly with Stephen O’Connor. Despite putting in a quick round, O’Connor had to settle for third place while Butler slotted into seventh with Harold McGahern’s 10-year-old gelding, Will Wimble. Finishing his show on a high, Butler and Kilcor Amber demonstrated beat the clock when they recorded the fastest round of the 90 starters to claim the rosette ahead of Martin Fuchs in the final speed class. Kill International was buzzing last week for the four-day Allianz Champions-of-the-Year Show which featured two rings and an action-packed schedule. The opening day’s action saw a lot of horses and rider combinations competing for their places in the weekend’s action. Gerard Clark from Ballivor started his four days in the ribbons when he took second place in the Feature Allianz 1.40m class, and went on to secure first in the Allianz 1.30m class. Clem McMahon took the spoils in the Gain Mini-Grand Prix with Bettystown man Floody in second. The main Grand Prix brought the show to an exciting climax. Organised as part of the National Grand Prix Autumn league the Kingsland/SJI GP featured 47 horse and rider combinations with 10 making it through to the jump-off. Butler was the first to jump clear with the John Higgins-owned Keeford Topcat (38.14), but McMahon knocked two seconds off that time for victory. The 2011 Tattersalls Festival, with support from Horse Sport Ireland, Eventing Ireland, Catherine Witt’s Rookery Park Stud and Dunboyne Castle Hotel, will take place from 26th to 29th May next year with a new cross-country course designed by international event rider, Ian Stark. For the first time the Tattersalls International Horse Trials will run a CCI 3 Star Class. There will also be a festival village for shopping and crafts along with activities for children.