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.

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

Eight horses in riders made it through to the second round after course builder Anne Waistell got the balance just about perfect in round one and Francis Connors set the early target when clear in 47.56 seconds with Capitol Cruise. Cork’s Alan O Regan then really set the jump-ff alight knocking a massive seven seconds off the target with Electric Feel and they would eventually hold on to finish fourth.

Peter Moloney from Colligan in Dungarvan then produced a superb clear round with the Pat Duggan owned mare Ribanbelle Tame and their time of 38.79 seconds looked almost unbeatable. Seamus Hayes was next to go and he produced a great effort with Jerry Sweetnam’s striking grey Corphin, finishing clear in 40.14 seconds to move into second.

However a competition is never over when Francis Connors is left to jump and just as he has done so many times in the past, the Waterford rider kept his composure on the way to a stunning clear in 37.92 seconds with the Hilda Anthony owned Uskerty Diamond Lady who was bred by John Doyle of Uskerty Horses Ireland.

The Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league now moves to Midleton in Co Cork for the fourth round, with Francis Connors and Uskerty Diamond Lady on top of the table with 20 points.

PAUL BEECHER AND LOUGHNATOUSA ZIDANE SCORE SECOND FBD SPEED SERIES WIN AT AGLISH GYMKAHNA

Co Waterford’s Paul Beecher scored his second FBD Speed Series win of the season on Sunday, this time at Aglish Gymkhana in West Waterford where once again the Tallow born rider was riding Loughnatousa Zidane.

Former Hickstead Derby winner Beecher, had also come out on top in the FBD Speed Series opener at Ballylawn with the eight-year-old Temple Clover chestnut gelding and they beat off 53 fellow competitors at Aglish after a brilliant clear round in the two-phase competition, stopping the clock in 36.98 seconds.

Cork young rider Daniel Joyce claimed runner up spot with Loughnatousa Cisco, finishing just three hundredths of a second slower than the winner with the 10-year-old Krafty Clover gelding, while Deirdre Doyle was close behind in third (37.24)  with Done Cruising.

Less than a second separated the top five finishers with Daniel Joyce also taking fourth place with Marvellous Marvin (37.46), just ahead reigning national grand prix league champion Vincent Byrne in fifth with Colorado, while Dungarvan young rider Nicolas Connors finished fifth with Lantino 31.

The FBD Speed Series now moves to Co Cork, with Midleton hosting the fourth round this Sunday (May 24th)

1. Francis Connors/Uskerty Diamond Lady 0/0 37.92

2. Peter Moloney/Rinanbelle Tame 0/0 38.79

3. Seamus Hayes/Corphin 0/0 40.14

4. Alan O Regan/Electric Feel 0/0 40.44

5. Francis Connors/Capitol Cruise 0/0 47.56

6. Anthony O Regan/Velvet Blackjack 0/5 54.84

7. Peter Moloney/Ballyconnery Wood 0/8 42.62

8. Seamus Hayes/Barichello W 0/8 45.01

32 Starters

8 Into Jump-off

1. Paul Beecher/Loughnatousa Zidane 0/0 36.98

2. Daniel Joyce/Loughnatousa Cisco 0/0 37.01

3. Deirdre Doyle/Done Cruising 0/0 37.24

4. Danile Joyce/Marvellous Marvin 0/0 37.46

5. Vincent Byrne/Colorado 0/0 37.79

6. Nicolas D Connors/Lantino 31 0/0 38.49

53 starters