Limerick Native Paul O’ Shea was crowned 2010 TRM National Grand Prix Champion in Kildare International today (Sunday) when securing third place with Paul Clarke’s and Martin Walsh’s Cascaletto St. Ghyvan Z. 

Although the combination recorded four faults in the timed round, his time of 46.49 was enough to finish just ahead of closest rival Frances Connors who also crossed the line with one pole on the floor in a time of 46.89 for eventual fourth in the line-up.

Speaking afterwards, Paul O’ Shea said: “It has been a great year and I am lucky to have great horses and the support of great owners.  It was a very fair course and I knew what I had to do to take the title”.

All three contenders for the title entered three horses in an attempt to gain maximum points and to be in with a chance to take the home the €8,000 on offer for the league title. However the battle for the title whittled down to just two riders, as Tholm Keane failed to secure a place in the jump-off.

In a hard fought final leg, it was young rider Aidan Killeen and Du Noble that took the final leg in the €3000 Kildare International sponsored Grand Prix when delivering the only clear in a time of 44.74.

Current National Champion, Eddie Moloney and John McDonald’s Chatsworth Dan was fastest of the four faulters in 44.39 to claim the runner-up spot, while Dublin rider Annemarie Fitzpatrick took fifth place with her  Finders Keepers 2  when crossing the line also on four faults in a time of 48.57.

Not content with taking four place, O’ Shea also took sixth place with Day Dream St Ghyvan Z, and seventh with Realman.

The battle for leading horse was decided at the penultimate round at Newcastle Show last weekend, as Paul Clarke and Michael Walshe’s Day Dream St Ghyvan Z.

Meanwhile, Meath based rider John Floody collected a superb double of wins on the day when he collected the 1.30m Leinster Development League final with PMR Rehy Irish All Star.  This win helped Floody achieve one of the big prizes for the weekend the Ted Johnsons Leading Rider Award.

One of the local riders, Derek McConnell from Rathangan was also among the big prize winners when he collected the final class of the weekend, the 1.20m class sponsored by Finlay Ford Motors.  The Rathangan man had been knocking on the door all weekend and got a well deserved win in the final class.

Home based Rider Julieann Gaffney collected a voucher of €300 for the Soho Boutique in the Whitewater Shopping Centre when she was named as the Leading Lady rider.  The Kildare International rider claimed a win, two fourths and a sixth place over the course of the weekend to run out an easy winner of the Leading Lady Prize.

Julieann was a winner on Saturday in the Grey Abbey Veterinary Hospital’s 1.10m class with her father Liam’s home bred Winterdown Delight while her two fourth place finishes came on her own very impressive Zigali PS. 

Proprietor of Kildare International Liam Gaffney was delighted to hold the National Grand Prix League Final; ‘’It was great honour for us to hold such a prestigious event and having some of Ireland’s best riders here was fantastic.  Paul O’Shea and Aidan Killeen were worthy winners and so to was everyone else this weekend.’’

‘’There was a lot of positive feedback from many of the top riders and we hope to build on this weekend and make any further shows even bigger and better.  I must also thank all our sponsors for their kind support towards this show.’’

Kildare International is due to host a leg of the 2010 Kingsland Autumn Grand Prix League on November 28^th while before then there will be several Riding Club and Pony Club Shows and lots of activities for all in the lovality.