Cian O'Connor came and conquered the 2008 ShowjumpingIreland Autumn Grand Prix League with a decisive win at the Allianz sponsored Final in Kill International at the weekend.
This is an exciting association for the venue as Allianz not only sponsored the class but have signed up to a long term sponsorship deal with Kill International.
This commitment and input by a sponsor is welcomed by all involved including S.J.I.
The Kildare born rider was placed either first or second in all of the legs of the League that he attended and was proclaimed Champion at Kill International.
After winning Sunday's Grand Prix with Markopaulo, he secured the €2,000 winner's cheque. The runner up in the League was Lucy Buchanan.
Going into the final leg ,all the 29-year-old had to do was finish inside the top six to ensure victory and if he did not do that, hope for either Richie Moloney or Lucy Buchanan to finish outside the top two.
Having begun his attack on the League in the third leg at James Kernan's in Crossmaglen, O'Connor took the League by storm registering a second win at Cavan with Irish Independent Echo Beach.
After these two successes, he cemented his place on the top of the leader board with a second place in both Killossery and Portmore. However, his runner up spot in Portmore was bitter-sweet, although he hates to get beaten, his victor was one of his students, Raphael Goehrs.
After this Cian said: "I am delighted for Raph and although I don't like to be beaten, it was great to see all the hard work he has put in over the last couple of months paying off."
In Killossery, Lucy Buchanan proved unbeatable with her own and Irish Bearings Ltd's Cavalier Andy. On this occasion, Buchanan was a comfortable winner by almost two seconds leaving the eventual league winner toiling in her wake. However, O'Connor's second place that day was enough to propel him to pole position on the table and this is where he stayed.
Cian now travels to Brussels on the 27th, followed by Geneva on the 11th of December and then Olympia on the 18th before taking what will no doubt be a well deserved rest before the 2009 season.
As always, O'Connor will ultimately remain a major force to be reckoned with when he takes on the opposition at home, and with the horse power that he holds at Karlswood he will remain in that seat for quite some time.
For 2009, his main attraction will undoubtedly be the very exciting Rancorrado who will be one of Ireland's main Super League candidates.
In the Young Rider's section, O'Connor's tutelage of Raphael Goehrs paid dividends on Sunday when, with a seventh placing on Mistral De Ravalet, he secured the Young Rider section of the League taking home a cheque for €1,000. John Higgins Jnr. took the runner up spot and a cheque for €500.
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