FRANCIS Connors continued his 2006 Grand Prix campaign with a win at

the Mullingar Equestrian Centre today (Sunday), and a move to the top

of the league leaderboard.

Connors had two of the five horses that made it through to the jump-

off in this, the second leg of the Temple Spa Autumn Grand Prix

League, but it was Highfort Stud's that gave him

victory with a classic double clear round and a time of 31.76, just

fractions of a second ahead of runner-up Mark McAuley, who piloted

home in 31.97 seconds.

Richie Moloney also had two horses in the final top six, with his own

giving him third place in a carefully jumped double clear,

and Ian Smith's the fastest of the first round four-

faulters, slotting Richie into sixth overall today.

Francis Mangan's had a single fence down in the jump-off,

giving Fra Connors a fourth place, while Thomas O'Brien failed to

repeat his first-round clear on , but two fences

down was still enough to earn him a Grand Prix fifth position.

Today's result propels Waterford's Francis Connors into pole position

in the Temple Spa Grand Prix League, with 13 points after two

competitions.

SHOW JUMPING RESULT - TEMPLE SPA AUTUMN GRAND PRIX LEAGUE

RESULT: MULLINGAR Grand Prix 1m40

Sunday October 1, 2006

Venue: Mullingar Equestrian Centre

Sponsor: Temple Country Retreat and Spa

Prize Money: 3000 euro

1) Merlins Magic (Owner Highfort Stud); Francis Connors Faults 0/0

Time 31.76

2) Luciano 175 (Owner Sarah McAuley); Mark McAuley Faults 0/0 Time 31.97

3) Cerano (Owner Richard Moloney); Richard Moloney Faults 0/0 Time 43.20

4) Auto Cruz (Owner Francis Mangan); Francis Connors Faults 0/4 Time

33.17

5) Kalipso Du Marais (Owner Peter Glynn); Thomas O'Brien Faults 0/8

Time 40.94

6) Early Days (Owner Ian Smyth); Richard Moloney Faults 4/-

25 starters, five through to jump-off

TEMPLE SPA AUTUMN GRAND PRIX LEAGUE

after MULLINGAR Grand Prix 1m40

October 1, 2006

1) Francis Connors 13 points

2) Neal Fearon 10 points

3) Jack Doyle 8 points

4) Lisa O'Farrell 6 points

5) Gemma Phelan 4 points

6) Edward Doyle 2 points