BANNER Equestrian Centre in Co Clare proved to be a happy hunting ground for Australian native Jake Hunter as he claimed the win and sixth place in the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour last Saturday.

Hunter, riding Annaghmore Beach Cruise, clocked the winning clear round in 39.05 seconds and got his just reward after a runner-up place at both Emerald and Broadmeadows recently. This result means Hunter occupies second and third place on the leaderboard. He has accumulated 16 points with both Annaghmore Beach Cruise and Satellittenflieger.

Owned by Sandra Duffy/Ireland Horse Sport and Leisure Ltd, Annaghmore Beach Cruise is a 14-year-old-gelding by Beach Ball out of the Cruising-sired Annaghmore Sonieke.

Delighted with the win, Hunter said: “I had been unlucky the last few weeks, but it came together today. I got the opportunity to test out the track with Lejeune and, although we put in a fast round, I could see where I could make up the time with the second horse.

“I knew Sven (Hadley) would be very fast, so I couldn’t hang around. I think that I made up the time with Annaghmore Beach Cruise at the first three fences and then I just kept it as tight as I could and, thankfully, it paid off. It was my first time at the venue and they did an excellent job and I look forward to coming back.”

Speaking about Annaghmore Beach Cruise, Hunter added: “He is a new horse for me, having been previously campaigned by Josefina Goess-Saurau with much success. We hope to finish this league and then move up to the higher-level Grands Prix.

“My second horse, Lejeune, I began riding last August and this was our first Grand Prix. He handled the task very well and I feel he is one for the future.”

Competitive

A field of 24 lined out to take on the Paul Duffy-designed course and, from those, 15 booked their place against the clock in the Bakels-sponsored class, which offered €3,000.

No stranger to success in this league, Sven Hadley claimed second and fourth places. Hadley delivered his best result with the eight-year-old Make it Easy, when clear in 39.75 seconds and that was good enough to see him soar to the top of the overall leaderboard on 22 points.

Owned by Hadley Sporthorses and bred by M V Sponsen, the gelding is by Don’t Touch It M, out of the Landos mare C- Larissa. This combination claimed victory in the opening round of the league.

Hadley partnered his own stallion Phenomene Bleu VDM (Diamant De Semilly x Naba de Reve) to a clear in 41.44 to take fourth.

Slotting into third place was Tara Glynn and Inschalla C Z; they galloped home in a time of 40.47. Owned by the rider, the 12-year-old gelding is by I’m Special de Muze out of the Darco mare Tabella C. Glynn has produced the gelding from the age of four.

Munster young rider Daisy McNamara accounted for fifth place, when she kept all the poles in their cups aboard Martha McNamara’s 12-year-old gelding Caspetito Z in a time of 41.77. It was a good day for the combination, having also claimed the 1.30m class.

Completing the top six was Jake Hunter and Lejeune (0/0 42.68), a nine-year-old by Vigo D’Arsouilles.

Hadley victory

It was a good outing for Sven Hadley, as he led the victory lap in the 1.20m riding the seven-year-old home-bred Maximum Numero Too HSH, clocking the fastest clear in 34.19. Hadley took another share of the prize fund in third, when he delivered another clear with Paul Carberry’s Brandonview First Edition in a time of 36.28.

Separating Hadley’s placings was event rider Cathal Daniels with Katherine Charlton’s eight-year-old Class Cut Diamond, clear in 36.21.

There was a good following for the 1.10m, which included the six-year-old Hibernia Sport Horses Qualifier and Munster Region SJI Spring Tour. Claiming the win was junior rider Mark Neilan aboard Aoileann Nic An Lomaire’s seven-year-old New Haven Star, when they were fastest of the 25 double clears in a time of 35.07 seconds.

The next four placings were filled by amateur riders. Taking the runner-up spot was Emma Walshe (AA) and Lux Like Diamonds in a time of 32.16, ahead of Lorraine Younge (AA) and Belfieldflight in a time of 32.84. Slotting into fourth place was Aine O’Gorman (AA) and Dangriga Des Premices Z in 33.23, while Caroline Ryan (AA) on Killerisk Conor were fifth, ahead of junior rider Rachel Scanlon on Craigmore Cruising in sixth.