ANOTHER win for Frank Curran last Sunday at Barnadown saw the Tyrone rider move up the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour leader board. Riding Oliver Twister, he recorded his second consecutive win of the series, having won the week before at Kernan’s Equestrian Centre.
The pairing got off to a good start this season, winning the opening round at JAG Equestrian. The result at Barnadown now places Curran on 30 points, just eight points off the current leader and reigning champion Sven Hadley.
Owned by Heffron Equine and bred by Sydney Cranston from Monaghan, Oliver Twister (ISH) is by the Voltaire-sired Oliver and out of the Don Juan De La Bouverie sired dam, Skerrymores Don One. The chesnut gelding was originally bought by Harvey Smith (IRL) in Cavan Horse Sales as a four-year-old and was campaigned for a short time by Francis Connors in 2016 before being taken over by Curran.
A thrilled Frank Curran said: “I am delighted with the result. John Doyle’s track was bigger and more technical, so it was a nice build up to bigger classes in the next few weeks. Oliver was his consistent self and I appreciate the support from the Heffron family.”
Despite clashing with the Welcome Tour in Millstreet, there was a good turn out in Barnadown, with 38 combinations battling it out. Course John Doyle designed a fair track which saw eight maintain clean sheets in the first round.
In the jump-off, the course allowed riders to make up time in distances and in the turn backs. The course started strong with a triple bar and then a long straight run down to fence two, where a stride could be taken off. There was a double at three off the corner, which demanded careful riding. Riders needed to then make up time in the turn back from fence four to a vertical at five.
First to go, Wexford rider Michaeli Byrne didn’t bow to the pressure, as she set the pace when delivering the first double clear in 45.42 seconds. Owned by Michael Byrne, King Diego is a nine-year-old gelding by Ricardo Z out of the Kildalton King-sired dam Lucky Sheeba.
Tipperary native Seamus Hayes meant business from the start, as he took it on with the big striding Kavalli Di Magico. The pairing started off well and a tight line from four to five saw them lower the target to 43.72 and later take eventual third. Kavalli Di Magico is a eight-year-old stallion by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of the Flamenco De Semilly-sired dam, Wameco.
The stallion was previously campaigned by Czech rider Jaroslav Sima and was taken over by Hayes in 2016. They first made their appearance in Oliva and have proved successful in the aged classes, qualifying for the seven and eight-year-olds in Dublin Horse Show last year.
Next in, Sean Monaghan’s opted to take a safer line back to the double with the Paddy Quinlan-owned Simone (Spartacus x Campeona).
However, despite this slightly safer line, he kept the pace up and a clear in 45.14 saw him finish just ahead of Michaeli Byrne and King Diego who occupied eventual sixth in the line-up.
SUPPORT
Reigning Spring Tour Pro Am Champions, Vickie Anderson and Zack had plenty of crowd support on the day. Just their second outing this year, Anderson opted to take the longer approach to fence four and crossed the line in 44.83 for eventual fourth.
Local rider Patrick Hickey was next to go with Quandurina and he opted for nine strides from one to two and also for the inside line to four. This matched with a good pace saw him temporarily take the lead, when clear in 42.92. Hickey, comes from a family steeped in showjumping history. His uncle, Michael Hickey who owns Sunny Hill Stud from Kildare, jumped on the Aga Khan team in 1975, and Patrick is a first cousin of international showjumper Mark McAuley.
Quandurina (HOLST), is a 12-year-old mare, by Quidamderevel out of Handura. Under Hickey’s command, the pairing have built up a impressive record in international competition. Last year the formed part of the team that finished equal second in the junior Nations Cup at Hagen.
Last to go, all eyes were focused on Frank Curran who was looking to add to his leader board tally in Sven Hadley’s absence.
Taking it on with Oliver Twister, he set off in a determined pace, making up time first in the turn back to the double. A stride out to fence four saw him get the upper hand, crossing the line in 42.77 to take the win and in the process demoting Hickey to second. A second place finish for Hickey saw him collect the leading young rider prize of the round.
YOUNG RIDERS
In the 1.30m class, young riders dominated the placings, filling the top three slots. Taking the win was Mark Finnerty riding Emma. Edward Doyle Jnr took second place with Billy Salsa, while third place belonged to Liam Deery and Emico D.D.
The winner of the 1.20m was Wicklow rider John Mulvey riding PNP Rocc. Taking second place was local rider Andrea Dempsey, riding Great Command, ahead of Lauren Haire and Z Time.
Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour Barnadown
1. Frank Curran Oliver Twister
2. Patrick Hickey Quandurina
3. Seamus Hayes Kavalli Di Magico
4. Vickie Anderson Zack
5. John Monaghan Simone
6. Michaela Ann Byrne King Diego