John Floody continued his run of good form at Ravensdale Lodge, the popular North Louth Equestrian Centre last Wednesday at the final of their registered Summer Grass League. This run of results started back in February when he had a super weekend at the first “Guidam” Grand Prix of the year to be held at the centre when he was narrowly beaten by Conor Drain. He followed it up, this time outdoors on grass in the inaugural Ravensdale Lodge Grand Prix along with a number of other classes at their show held on June 7^th. Last Wednesday he drove away from the centre with the well deserved haul of two league and class wins, two incentive bonuses and one added bonus for the most double clear rounds jumped throughout the course of the league. Not bad for a days work.

The league, which had been very well supported over the eight-week duration, saw a large turn out for the final where a number of qualified combinations were eligible to jump for the generous prize fund and bonuses. There were two added prizes, one was a €100 per class incentive to any combination who had jumped four double clear rounds in the run up to the final and who won the same class in the final, the other was a €100 bonus to the rider who jumped the most double clear rounds during the course of the league so potentially there was an added €700 on offer in addition to the normal prize fund and the by now well recognised Ravensdale Lodge Silver Salver. The first class up for decision was the 90cm class and this was won by Louise Reid riding her own “Castlenavan Dundiamond”. This pair had been models of consistency over the course of the eight weeks, jumping their four double clear rounds to qualify for the final as well as the valuable bonus of €100 and they didn’t disappoint when the pressure was on, jumping double clear again in a time of 27.74 seconds to win the class and the bonus.

The 1m class had three qualified combinations and one in Particular eligible for the incentive, Orla Finnegan riding her own “Far Away Fields”. As was the case in the final, the qualified combinations were drawn and jumped last. First to take on the clock in the jump off was Jonathan Mahon on “Wibiola H”, the combination choosing the steady route of a double clear round in a time of 31.18. Orla Finnegan was next to jump the Ray Buchanan designed course, this combination the only pairing eligible for the incentive took the opposite route and threw caution to the wind, cutting every corner and giving it a real lash to record a superb double clear round in a crowd pleasing time of 23.94 seconds. The only pairing that could now beat her was the winning combination from the 90cm class, Louise Reid and “Castlenavan Dundiamond”. Louise, with one class under her belt and the incentive money in her pocket chose not to chase what was practically an unbeatable time and went steady to record another good double clear, stopping the clock on 36.92 seconds. Louise drove the road back to Downpatrick happy with her days work, her win in the 90cm class added to earlier win in the registered Spring league held indoors and the silver salvers were now beginning to add up. Winning rider Finnegan commented “I am really delighted with the win, we have had a great time over the eight weeks, the ground has ridden perfectly every week and the arenas are amazing, they jump so consistently and it is great to be able to know that you will be jumping on grass whatever the weather throws at you. The incentive bonuses were a great idea, a nice reward for consistent performance from both horse and rider”.

John Floody was in pole position in the 1.10m class, sitting with his four double clears on Eugene Hanratty’s “Woodprins”, this six year old Dutch import definitely one to keep an eye on for the future. John Floody is also one to constantly keep your eye on and he had been eying up the incentive classes from the start of the league. He had been a great supporter of the league from the first day, his lorry load of horses were the first down the driveway each week and today was to be payback for him. Another effortless double clear for horse and rider ensured the win and incentive bonus of €100, it also sealed the other €100 bonus for the rider who jumped the most double clear rounds over the course of the eight weeks. They were well deserved and nobody could begrudge the man who works so hard in the game and produces horses so consistently. The combination however did not collect their winnings after the 1.10m class as in these times of environmental awareness and reduced waste it was decided to wait until after the 1.20m class to write the cheque as the same combination looked very likely repeat winners of both class and incentive. They didn’t disappoint and so the cheque was written for both classes as John Floody and “Woodprins” secured the win in the 1.20m class. “We have had a great eight weeks” said Floody, “The tracks were super to bring on young horses and the grass arenas stood up really well, the ground jumped super consistently every week. It is a great facility, the surfaces both indoor and outdoor are fantastic, the shows are run on time and efficiently and it so easy for me to get to. The incentives and bonuses that are put up by the centre are a great idea, they reward consistency and they give a competitor a goal at the end of the league and something to work to. We have had a really good run of form here going back to February when I came close in the “Guidam” Grand Prix and then we went on to win the first outdoor Grand Prix in early June…there must be something in the air, we are looking forward to getting back here for the next big show on the 22^nd August”.