22 May One, two for Francis Derwin in Portmore
Leinster riders dominated the GAIN Alltech Grand Prix in Portmore today (22nd May), taking four of the top six placings in the GAIN Alltech National Grand Prix. In the earlier 1.30m Speed Championship, County Meath’s Gerard Clarke emerged victorious.
GAIN Alltech Grand Prix
Athlone’ s Francis Derwin put his second victory on GAIN Alltech leaderboard when he took the honours in a strong start-list of 47 combinations. Riding Deep Pockets, he was the fastest of eight double clears in 40.44 seconds. Derwin, who is still a junior rider, added to his haul when he also took the runner up. Riding Killerisk Can Ya, he was a fraction of a second behind his own time, when clocking 40.60. This is the second victory in the league for Derwin as he also took the round in Barnadown with AGH Whiterock Cruise Down.Owned by Jim Derwin, Deep Pockets, is a 12-year-old gelding by O.B.O.S Quality 004, out of Simply Chic (Cruising). The gelding was previously campaigned by Francis’ sister Kate with much success. Last year, the combination ended the season on a high note, when winning the final round of the Autumn Grand Prix in Cavan.Owned by Francis Jnr and bred by Maura Counihan, Killerisk Can Ya, is a nine-year-old by Can Ya Makan out of the Mermus R sired dam R Umonia 14. Reigning National Grand Prix Champion, Kildare’s Derek Mc Connell took third place when he clocked 41.20 aboard the Sorcha Hennessy owned eight-year-old Izzy (I’m Special De Muze X Ulrieke). Jenny Rankin opted for the safer options and it paid off as she delivered a clear with Carmela Z in 43.65 for eventual fourth. Winners of the round in Galway, Tim MacDonagh and Hollypark Galloway added to their points, when they stopped the clock in 44.06 for fifth place. This placing added a further five points to their tally of 16, which means that they take poll position on the overall leaderboard. County’ Meath’s Laurence Mowatt and Evergreen kept all the poles in place in a time of 44.47 for sixth place.
1.30m Speed Class
Earlier in the day, County Meath’s Gerard Clarke took the honours in the 1.30m Speed Championship, when he lodged a double clear in 55.16 seconds with Lupins Lux Z. Owned by Clare and Pat Sutton, the 11-year-old gelding is by Lux Z and out of the Cruising sired dam, Thornfield Lupin. Further down the line in fourth place was Kildare rider, Nicola Fitzgibbon, who lodged a clear aboard the Ciara Horan owned, Grenada K in 58.12