IT WAS 26 year-old Army rider Lt. Michael Kelly who took the honours at Cavan today (Sunday) in the eighth leg of the HSI Chippison Grand Prix Tour with a win on the Minister for Defence's Irish-bred grey gelding 'River Foyle'.

In the twelve -horse jump-off Longford-born Kelly pipped Young Rider Alex Duffy to the post with eight tenths of a second in hand over Duffy's ' Flogas Ucorado B', which is owned by Tiernan Gill.

Third place at Cavan, which had a massive turn-out of 81 starters, went to Grand Prix veteran Linda Courtney, riding her own Irish-bred 'HTwo'.

Afterwards Army Equitation School OC Lt. Col. Gerry O'Gorman said: "Lt. Kelly has taken over the ride on River Foyle from Shane Carey and I think he rode excellently. He needed a confidence-booster and he certainly got it here today by winning what was a very hot class."

A total of three Irish-bred horses finished in the top six at Cavan this afternoon, including Tom McGurk's 'Macushla R', who finished in fourth, piloted by Derek McConnell.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: HSI CHIPPISON SPRING TOUR, CAVAN EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, CO. CAVAN

GRAND PRIX
1m35
Eighth Leg of 2010 HSI Chippison Spring Tour
Presented by the Show Jumpers' Club in Association with TRI Equestrian
Sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland and Cavan Equestrian Centre
Cavan Equestrian Centre, Co. Cavan
Sunday March 28, 2010

1) River Foyle (ISH) (Owner Minister For Defence); Lt. Michael Kelly Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 40.67
2) Flogas Ucorado B (Owner Tiernan Gill); Alex Duffy (YR) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 41.47
3) HTwo (ISH) (Owner Linda Courtney); Linda Courtney Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 42.39
4) Macushla R (ISH) (Owner Tom Mc Gurk); Derek McConnell Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 44.13
5) Pepp (Owner John Curran); Frank M Curran (YR) Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 37.83
6) Colette B (Owner Brian Duff); Brian Duff Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 39.43

81 starters, 12 through to jump-off