Swail takes national title

CONOR SWAIL relinquished the speed champion of Ireland title the Heineken National Show bumping championships in Claddagh Park, Galway last night, (but took on the more prestigious angle of Heineken national champion after an incredibly hard fought battle over three rounds in the Heineken Grand Prix.

Swail was the man of the moment as he got both Huntingtown and Lisna Tutor through to the third round of the Grand Prix. When Tom Slattery and Coilte Mor Hill, overall leaders after the previous two nights, failed to join the elite group of four through to the final stage, rapid calculations revealed that Swail had to be thirds or better in the final reckoning to claim the title with Lisna Tutor.

Both Shane Breen (Felice) and defending champion Edward Doyle (Flex) had four faults against the clock, while Swail assumed the lead with his first ride, Huntingtown, on just two time faults. At this stage, with only himself to heat, Swail could not be denied the Grand Prix honours, but he still had to be around with a score better than four faults in 45.71 with Lisna Tutor to take the overall title.

The troublesome final fence fell for Swail, but with the clock showing 43.90, he had done enough to take third place and keep Slattery at bay by the slimmest of margins - a single point - after three days of jumping.

Despite his 12 point overnight advantage, Harry Marshall relinquished his grip on the Heineken speed championship when Allaska, an Irish bred he purchased in Wales earlier this year, brought down two fences in the final leg. One fence down would still have left Marshall out in front, but when a mistake at the final fence added a further four faults to his score, Patrickswell, Co Limerick jockey Joan Greene was confirmed as national speed champion with last night's winner, Abbey Duchess.