SVEN Hadley left his domination of the International Silver Tour in no doubt when winning three classes over three days at Mullingar International Horse Show.
Riding his own 11-year-old Belgian-bred mare Elastique van de Koekoek (Golden Hawk x Forever) Hadley got off to a wining start in Saturday’s two-star Glenn Wood-sponsored 1.20m one-round speed. His time of 53.23 proved unbeatable, ahead of British rider Nicole Kershaw and Philip Rosbotham’s nine-year-old gelding Avalent (Valent x Aventyno Z), who stopped the clock just fractions slower in 53.45 seconds for second place. Avalent was bred by Linzi Johnston.
Third went to Paul Beecher and the Dutch-bred Danqu in 55.54, while fourth, despite having one fence to add was Nicola FitzGibbon aboard Ciara Horan’s 10-year-old mare Grenada K in 56.30.
Hadley and Elastique van de Koekoek once again came out on top in Sunday’s 1.25m Accumulator, sponsored by Castleforbes Stud. They were one of 10 combinations to achieve the top score of 65 and posted the fastest time of 48.02 seconds.
Once again, it was Nicole Kershaw and Avalent that came closest; they were almost three seconds behind in 50.64. Hadley also took third place with his second mount, the Padraig Howley-bred Uidam (Luidam x Cavalier Royale), in 51.20.
Hollyanne Sweetnam riding One and Only Spartacas was fourth in 51.52, while Italy’s Angela Kosko and her own Happyness R took fifth place. Lt James Whyte completed the top six with the Minister for Defence’s Templetouhy.
Hadley’s final win came in Monday’s Jim Derwin Equestrian-sponsored 1.25m two-phase with Uidam. The pair’s second phase time of 30.11 earned them the top-spot and €750, once again beating Kershaw into second place with Avalent (0/0 30.41).
Third was Megan McGettigan (Ballinamurra Eargon), ahead of Hollyanne Sweetnam (One and Only Spartucas) were fourth, Stephen Gibbons (Clooncalghy Beauty) in fifth and Katie Conlon (Creevagh Imp II) finished sixth.
Delighted Hadley
Galway-based Hadley was obviously delighted with his weekend. “Fair play to Robert [Fagan], I think that may have been the best international show he has ever had there. Everything ran on time and in accordance with all the restrictions. He was blessed with the weather and the prize money was great,” Hadley told The Irish Field.
“I’m delighted with how both horses went. I bought Elastique back in February and she is fast and very competitive. I’ve had Uidam for nearly two years now and both of them are very useful and reliable up to 1.40m.”
Hadley also stands stallion and breeds mares at Hadley Sport Horses. “I’m kept very busy with my two six-year-old stallions at the moment; HSH Harper Du Seigneur (Aganix Du Seigneur x Chippison) and Z7 Seven (Sheikh It x Diamant De Semilly) they are both being used for covering as well as competing.
“I’m lucky that they are quite easy to handle and are both easy horses for stallions. HSH Harper has qualified for the RDS and won the HSI class in Galway. Z7 has been very popular for covering so he has done a little less this year but I am hoping to maybe get them both to Lanaken in September and then maybe on to Vilamoura.
“We have about 10 broodmares of our own, some we’ve bought and some I’ve competed myself and are now retired. My European junior team horse Adelgonde Z is one, I like them to be proven before we breed from them. We normally have eight or 10 foals on the ground every year.”