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Fifth Win For Francis in Connollys Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League

News Desk — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 08:43:59 +0000

Waterford’s Francis Connors and the ultra consistent chestnut mare Uskerty Diamond Lady, scored an incredible fifth Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix win of the season, this time at Tallow Gymkhana in West Waterford on Thursday.

Written by Brian Hennessy

Connors and the Hilda Anthony owned mare had already recorded wins at Ballylawn, Aglish, Ballinamona and Killeagh and their latest win at Tallow means the pair have only failed to win at three of the eight league rounds so far and on one of those occasions - at Midleton, they managed to finish third.

“Fra” and Uskerty Diamond Lady were one of five double clear rounds, with Colligan’s Peter Moloney finishing as runner-up with Arbutus Ohio, just over two seconds behind the winner.

Francis Connors also filled third spot with the Una Flynn owned Argento Cruise while Charlotte Quinn produced a super performance with Unique to finish fourth just ahead of Colin Hannan in fifth with New Jewel.

Tipperary’s Liam O’Meara, who is one of a number of riders chasing Francis Connors at the top of the league table, finished sixth with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh. The Nenagh rider did produce the fastest time of the jump-off but one fence on the floor cost O’Meara victory on this occasion.

Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix League – Tallow Gymkhana 02/07/2015

1. Francis Connors/Uskerty Diamond Lady 0/0 44.21

2. Peter Moloney/Arbutus Ohio 0/0 46.37

3. Francis Connors/Argento Cruise 0/0 50.21

4. Charlotte Quinn/Unique 0/0 50.33

5. Colin Hannan/New Jewel 0/0 56.17

6. Liam O’Meara/Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh 0/4 43.80

Connors Wins Fourth Connolly’s Red Mills Munster GP

News Desk — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 07:49:21 +0000

Photo – Francis Connors and Uskerty Diamond Lady

Francis Connors and the incredibly consistent Uskerty Diamond Lady scored their fourth win of this year’s Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league, this time at Killeagh in Co. Cork.

Having already won league rounds at Ballylawn, Aglish and at Ballylawn last time out, Connors and the Hilda Anthony owned mare once again collected maximum points at Killeagh, to extend their lead at the top of the league table.

They were pushed all the way however by Liam O ‘Meara and Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh, who finished just 17 hundredths of a second slower in second, while Nenagh based O’Meara also filled third place with Realt na Carraig.

Tallow’s Paul Beecher and Danku were close behind in fourth while Francis Connors grabbed another slice of the prize-fund when finishing fifth with Cingdoctro and Seamus Hayes and Dilona Blue took sixth.

LAURA CONNORS WINS KILLEAGH ROUND OF THE FBD SPEED SERIES WITH JUSTJUMP

Co Waterford young rider Laura Connors claimed the latest round of the FBD Speed Series at Killeagh Gymkhana in Co Cork, posting the fastest double clear round of the competition with Justjump.

The nine-year-old mare by Master Imp, who is owned by Ann Connors, stopped the clock in 25.80 seconds giving the pair over half a second to spare over their nearest challenger Peter Moloney. The Colligan rider took runner-up spot with the Deirdre Bours owned Touchdown mare Valtaire.

Cork riders filled the next two places with Phillip Horgan finishing third with Nina Van Overis Z, just ahead of Patrick Joyce who was competing at his home show in Killeagh, taking fourth spot with Dusty Dude.

Tallow’s Tadhg Beecher and Loughnatousa Stan were close behind in fifth, while John Galagher completed the top six with Vida Dancer.

The Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix and FBD Speed Series league stay in Co. Cork next weekend, with Charleville Show hosting the eighth round of action on Sunday June 27th.

FBD Speed Series. Killeagh Co Cork Sunday 21/06/2015

1. Laura Connors/Justjump 0/0 25.80

2. Peter Moloney/Valtaire 0/0 26.47

3. Phillip Horgan/Nina Van Overis Z 0/0 29.45

4. Patrick Joyce/Dusty Dude 0/0 31.66

5. Tadhg Beecher/Loughnatousa Stan 0/0 31.82

6. John Gallagher/Vida Dancer H 0/0 33.27

Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league – Round 7 Killeagh Gymkhana Co. Cork 21/06/2015

1. Francis Connors/Uskerty Diamond Lady 0/0 35.30

2. Liam O’Meara/ Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh 0/0 35.47

3. Liam O’Meara/Realt na Carraig 0/0 37.29

4. Paul Beecher/Danqu 0/0 37.74

5. Francis Connors/Cingdoctro 0/0 38.31

6. Seamus Hayes/Dilona Blue 0/4 39.16

7. Alan O’Regan/Liberation 0/4 39.49

8. Philip Horgan/GVD Mispelaere 0/8.42.52

34 Starters

Connors Wins Red Mills Munster GP On Home Ground at Ballylawn

News Desk — Fri, 15 May 2015 06:05:51 +0000

Francis Connors pictured with John Gereth from Connolly’s RED MILLS at Ballylawn Show Co Waterford – Photo jumping news. com

Francis Connors ensured that the winners prize stayed on his home-soil at Ballylawn Stud, when he won the opening round of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster grand prix league on bank holiday Monday.

Written by Brian Hennessy

The Waterford rider’s winning round came aboard Hilda Anthony’s brilliant mare Uskerty Diamond Lady, who dominated this series in 2014 and on this form looks the one to beat again this season. This is the fourth year that Connolly’s RED MILLS have been title sponsor of the Munster Grand Prix League and speaking at the opening round in Ballylawn, RED MILLS sales representative John Gerety said,

“We are delighted to come on board once again this season and it is really encouraging the see even more venues added to the list, including Kingdom County this coming weekend. We are getting excellent feedback from competitors around the shows who are using our products and our nutrition team are always on hand to offer advice to all horse owners.”

Course builder Tom Holden brought the best out of the 25 starters, with nine making it through to the jump-off. Marion Hughes had set the early target with the Team Z7 owned eight-year-old gelding Laith. The Kilkenny riders time of 42.35 seconds did look beatable, however several combinations ran into trouble when jumping across the second last fence on the course and it quickly became apparent that clear rounds would be at a premium.

Paul Beecher did manage to keep all the fences standing with Ikona VT Recht Eind and would hold on to take third at the finish. Francis Connors round with Uskerty Diamond Lady was incredibly fast, stopping the clock in 38.79 seconds and pushing Marion Hughes into second.

Last to jump was Paddy O Donnell from Fenor Co Waterford and the former national champion produced a super effort with Harristown Gold, beating the target time set by Francis Connors but agonizingly the last fence hit the floor to leave them in fourth.

Francis Connors also finished fifth with Capitol Cruise, just ahead of Paul Beecher in sixth with Loughnatousa Eric and Jason Higgins seventh with Hadine Van’t Zorgvliet. Tipperary’s Darragh Ryan took the Schockemohle Sports sponsored leading young rider prize when finishing eighth with Furistos Lad.

The Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league now moves to Kingdom County Show on Sunday next May 10th

Result – Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix League – Ballylawn Show Co Waterford 04/05/2015

1. Francis Connors/Uskerty Diamond Lady 0/0 38.79

2. Marion Hughes/Laith 0/0 42.35

3. Paul Beecher/Ikona VT Recht Eind 0/0 49.76

4. Paddy O Donnell/Harristown Gold 0/4 38.07

5. Francis Connors/Capitol Cruise 0/4 41.00

6. Paul Beecher/Loughnatousa Eric 0/4 44.45

7. Jason Higgins/Hadine Van’t Zorgvliet 0/4 44.57

8. Darragh Ryan/Furistos Lad 0/4 51.09

Francis Connors Wins Again in Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster GP League

News Desk — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 06:40:48 +0000

Francis Connors and Uskerty Diamond Lady who won the West Clare round of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix League

For the second time in as many rounds, Waterford’s Francis Connors and the Hilda Anthony owned Uskerty Diamond Lady, grabbed the winners prize in the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league, this time in the fifth round of the series at Charleville Show in Co Cork.

Written by Brian Hennessy

The same partnership were victorious in the fourth round at West Clare and they were in devastating form again in Charleville, in a tight competition that saw less than a second and a half separate the top five finishers.

Ten of the 32 starters made it through to the jump off and in the end Connors filled the top two places, taking second place with Oilean Uno.

Another Waterford born rider grabbed third spot, Peter Moloney riding Ballyconnery Wood collecting valuable league points, as the Colligan native kept up his push for overall league honours.

All of the top eight finishers produced double clear rounds including Tralee’s Maura Counihan who finished fourth with Killerisk Minnie, while Brian Morrison was the highest placed local rider in fifth with Wodonja G.

David Moran and Derg Showtime completed the top six with Gemma Phelan seventh with RVS Harley Ger and Francis Connors again in the prizes taking seventh place with Macushla R.

This latest result means Francis Connors consolidates his position at the top of the league table.

This coming week sees a double bill of Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix League action, Tallow Gymkhana in West Waterford host’s round six of the series this Thursday July 3rd, before Clonmel Show will provide the venue for round seven on Sunday July 6th.

Full Result – Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix League – Round 5 Charleville Show Co Cork. 28/06/2014

1st Francis Connors/Uskerty Diamond Lady 0/0 38.06

2nd Francis Connors/Oilean Uno 0/0 38.27

3rd Peter Moloney/Ballyconnery Wood 0/0 38.68

4th Maura Counihan/Killerisk Minnie 0/0 39.20

5th Brian Morrison/Wodonja G 0/0 39.53

6th David Moran/Derg Showtime 0/0 40.83

7th Gemma Phelan/RVS Harley Ger 0/0 40.93

8th Francis Connors/Macushla R 0/0 46.26