MEATH'S John Floody set his sights firmly on the HSI Chippison Spring Tour title when finishing first in the penultimate leg of the series in Clare Equestrian Centre, Co. Clare today (Sunday) with Michael Smith's Irish-bred gelding 'Larkhill Cruiser'.
With three wins already under his belt, but victories eluding him on his most recent Chippison outings, the Newgrange-based rider said this afternoon: "I've been knocking on the door very hard, and I'm really delighted to have succeeded today."
Floody now sits on top of the leaderboard with 44 points ahead of next Sunday's HSI Chippison Spring Tour Final in Coilog Eventing, Co. Kildare.
Second-placed Cian O'Connor will be absent on international duty next week, so Floody will face a challenge from third-ranked Ger O'Neill, who finished fourth today on Jane O'Flynn's Irish-bred 'Kinnagrelly', and is now 16 points behind the leader. Points-and-a-half will be allocated for the Kildare final, so O'Neill is still within striking distance of the title.
Second place at Clare went to Sinead Kennedy on her father Bill's Irish-bred 'KEC Alicante', with Floody himself taking third place on Jim Monks's 'Ashbourne', who now moves into first on the tour's Leading Horse ranking.
SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: HSI CHIPPISON SPRING TOUR, CLARE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, CO. CLARE
GRAND PRIX
1m35
Twelfth Leg of 2010 HSI Chippison Spring Tour
Presented by the Show Jumpers' Club in Association with TRI Equestrian
Sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland and Timberpro Products
Clare Equestrian Centre, Co. Clare
Sunday April 11, 2010
1) Larkhill Cruiser (ISH) (Owner Michael Smith); John Floody Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 34.05
2) KEC Alicante (ISH) (Owner William Kennedy); Sinead Kennedy Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 35.17
3) Ashbourne (Owner Jim Monks); John Floody Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 35.85
4) Kinnagrelly (ISH) (Owner Jane O'Flynn); Gerard O'Neill Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 36.85
5) Cobra (Owner Lissava Stud); Joe Owens Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 38.37
6) Cyril Van De Mespel Z (Owner Kilian Browne); Kilian Browne Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 39.50
43 starters, 13 through to jump-off