THE third round of the Showjumpers Club Spring Tour in Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre fell victim to the weather last Sunday due to unpredicted snow showers. A total of 37 starters lined out for the class and of these seven produced first-round clears.

Following consultations with the ground jury, the seven riders got permission to divide the class. This was done in the interest of health and safety for the riders, and taking into account that many riders had to travel long distances home from Ashbourne.

Speaking after the class, John Floody said: “It was the only decision that could have been made really. The weather had really deteriorated by the time the first round had finished. The warm-up was almost submerged and no matter where you moved the jumps, the take-off and landing had become dangerous.

“It would have been the same anywhere, it is no reflection on Broadmeadows at all, the weather just got so bad that it would have been the same anywhere.

“Tom Holden had built a really nice track and he got a good number of seven from the 37 to go forward to jump-off, which was perfect.

“One of the judges came out and asked how the riders felt and they were happy to divide; it was impossible to warm-up properly and many riders who had a distance to travel home were concerned about the road conditions.

“I had inches of snow on my hat and jacket at this stage and had changed my clothes about three times; conditions just made it impossible so the decision was made to call off the jump-off,” he explained.

SEVEN IN DIVISION

The seven combinations that divided the class were: Luke Garrigan (MHS La Scala); Cathal Daniels (Darton’s Quality Brigade); Sven Hadley (Uidam); Paul Murphy (Tuilleadh Uisce Beaha); Shannon MacKenzie (Bens Lady Lux) and John Floody (HTS Blackrock and AMG Whiterock Luis).

Floody was in the strongest position. He had two horses into the timed round and was by quite a margin the fastest of the first-round riders; recording a time of 63.66.

The Botanica Young Rider prize was awarded to Luke Garrigan as the highest placed young rider.

Earlier in the day, Louise Carroll won the 1.10m jump-off when she and Cabron de Reve Z stopped the clock at 29.38, over two seconds faster than runner-up Maria Duffy riding Artic Lodge in 31.90.

Paul Carberry dominated the 1.20m division talking first place with Brandonview First Edition in a time of 28.09 as well as the runner-up spot aboard Cranny West in 28.56.

The next round of the Spring League takes place tomorrow (Sunday) at the three-day show in Portmore Equestrian.