FOLLOWING a very successful league, the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour came to a conclusion at the Irish Breeders’ Classic last Saturday. As expected there were big entries in all three divisions.

In the 1.35m, a field of 68 combinations lined out to battle it out for the €3,500 on offer. In the end American rider Charlotte Jacobs took the final round, while Waterford’s Francis Connors won the overall title.

Recently purchased from Jason Higgins, Jacobs’ mount Rincoola Milsean is an eight-year-old gelding, bred by the late Harold McGahern, by Aldatus Z out of the Cruising-sired Rincoola Abu.

Placed sixth in the Gain/Alltech Grand Prix the day before, Jacobs added to her tally when she lodged the winning round aboard Rincoola Milsean in 34.82.

There was plenty of support for local rider Abigail Boland who kept all the poles in place with The Hurricane in 35.64.

This was the second good result for this combination as they had taken the runner-up place in the 1.30m Young Rider Championship at the RDS the previous weekend.

Aidan Killeen also kept all the poles in place with Helianthus H, albeit in a slower time of 35.95 for third place. Junior rider Eoin Brennan opted for the more careful approach with the Richard Bourns-owned Ninparo and it paid dividends as they crossed the line with nothing to add in 37.62 for eventual fourth.

Little separated the next placing as Darragh Ryan partnered the Vivienne Digby-owned Thebestof Dancer to a clear in 37.70. A sixth-place finish for Francis Connors and Rossa Lough Derg, clear in 38.23, was enough for him to take the 2021 title. Connors had gone into the final in a strong position on 27 points.

Blair takes victory

Leading the victory lap in the 1.20m decider was Joanne Blair who was fastest of 20 double clears in an 84-strong start list. Riding her own Mon Ami, she galloped home in 30.41. Deirdre Doyle went into the final round as the league leader and held on to this to take the 2021 crown with Authentic Diamond. Leading young rider of the league was Robyn Moran.

Robin Carey was back in the winnings, this time settling for second place with Cts Peanuts when he crossed the line in 30.47. Carey also picked up the leading young rider of the day. Wexford’s Taylor Peare was fractions behind Carey on Lissyegan Geoffery in 30.99 for third.

There was no stopping amateur rider Aileen McDermott (AA) as she took fourth place with Amber Balou, in 31.57. Paddy O’Donnell and Seefin Suprise put in a gallant attempt but their time of 31.93 saw them slot into fifth place, ahead of Paul Beecher and Danqu, clear in 32.26.

McDermott claims title

First to battle it out for last Friday’s title was the 1.10m decider where 114 went to post. Apart from first place, the top six places were filled by amateur riders which demonstrated the talent of this category. Aileen McDermott and Amber Balou went into the final leg with a commanding lead of 22 points and this stood to her as she took the overall title and the league working producer.

Runner-up in the league and the leading young rider was Robyn Moran. Following a nail-biting class, young rider Robin Carey and Cts Peanuts took the win when they delivered the winning round of 28.63 and also took the leading young rider of the round. Carlow’s Leonie Dunne and Cavalino 26 were almost three seconds behind in 31.16 for second place, which was enough for her to claim the working producer of the round.

Last year’s league winner Kirsti Connole and Zazu Van Terhofstede who also maintained a clean sheet in 31.62. Laura Walshe and the eight-year-old Ballinaguilkey Heritage were fractions of a second behind in 31.94 for eventual fourth, while Michael O’Neill (AA) partnered the Vincent Byrne-owned Sambuca Paris Diamond to a clear in 32.61 for fifth place. Completing the top-six line-up was runner-up in the RDS Marie Hartley (AA) and the eight-year old Nikita Van Het Heidenfof when clear in 32.83.