TIPPERARY Equestrian Centre proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Carey family last Saturday when Adam Carey took victory in the second round of the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour and his older brother, Philip Carey, also featured in the line-up.

It was the first time a leg of the league was held at the Ryan family’s newly revamped facilities in Thurles, and while Storm Ciara threatened with strong winds, the class went off well.

Following a competitive competition, 19-year-old Adam Carey claimed victory with Quinn Z after lodging a blistering clear round in a time of 26.52 seconds against the clock. He also finished as the TRM leading young rider.

Carey, who juggles working full-time for Marion Hughes and riding his own horses in the evening, was delighted to win with Phillip Carey’s eight-year-old Belgian-bred mare by Querly Elvis, who he has produced from her four-year-old year. This was the first victory for the combination at 1.35m level.

“She’s an eight-year-old mare that we bought as a four-year-old in England and produced her through the ranks,” he said, adding that he has been in the saddle for all of her education. He praised the venue, adding: “I haven’t been here before. The surface is good here and they have a nice set of fences. I will definitely come back to school young horses here.

“The weather was working against us, it was fairly windy up there and a few fences blew down but once they used the sandbags it was fine.”

Good turnout

Despite a double bill of the tour, there was a good turnout at the Munster venue, with 33 combinations going to post, and from those, nine delivered double clears in a class that was run as two-phase. The tour saw some seasoned combinations, along with some up and coming youngsters featuring on the start list.

First to go in the class, Eddie Moloney eventually finished in second place with Andiamix Hero Z when he was almost a second behind, clocking 27.46. Owned by Caroline Teltsch, the 10-year-old gelding by Aganix du Seigneur has a good record at the higher level in Ireland, having finished sixth in the New Heights Series Grand Prix at the Meadows last season, as well as good placings at National Grand Prix level.

A previous winner of the young rider section of Mervue Leinster League, Stephen Murphy made his presence felt in this round. Riding Chantelle, he took third place when clear in 28.51. Bred in Co Wicklow by Gerry Traynor, the 11-year-old mare is by Lux Z out of the Errigal Flight-sired Texaco’s Delphine, who has bred eight foals for Traynor.

Phillip Carey and Kamiro D also kept all the poles in a place, albeit in a slower time of 29.21 for eventual fourth. Owned by Kieran Carey, Kamiro D is an eight-year-old French-bred stallion by Kashmir Van Schuttershof who was previously ridden by top Belgian rider Gregory Wathelet.

Carey took over the ride last March and have posted good results since, including a third place finish in the seven/eight year-old Dublin Horse Show qualifier in Barnadown and third in the Autumn Grand Prix in Cavan last December.

Phillip Horgan put in a good attempt with Classified (ISH), but a clear in 29.56 would only prove good enough for eventual fifth. Owned by Highfort Stud and bred by Philip Mc Manus, this seven-year-old gelding is by Je T’aime Flamenco and out of the Libertino dam Larissa II. Horgan took over the ride from Francis Connors last May and this was the combination’s first 1.35m.

Eddie Moloney was back in the ribbons taking sixth place with his second charge, his own eight-year-old Kannan mare, Nike, when he was fractions behind Horgan, clocking 29.69.

Leading amateur

For the second time, Meath rider Declan McEvoy took the Tesoro Top Placed Pro Am prize following his performance with BLM Cosmopolitan Dandy. Mc Evoy, who works as a full-time accountant, has produced the now 11-year-old Kannan-sired gelding from a four-year-old.

“I have had him since he was four years old. We have competed a couple of times in Dublin in the age classes and the seven and eight-year-old international class, and for the last few years we have been competing in the National Grand Prix League classes,” McEvoy said of his mount.

“I work as an accountant full-time Monday to Friday. It is difficult, especially in the winter months to combine the two, with the [day]light and the weather to get out in the evenings. Somehow I manage. I am lucky, my partner manages to exercise him during the week and I might get to ride him a few times,” he added.

McEvoy plans on following as much of the league as possible, although he must also make time to study. “It’s a great incentive for myself personally. It bridges the gap that you need when you don’t have the time to compete on a regular basis throughout the year. I hope to get a few more legs of the Spring Tour and then in May I have exams coming up, so I will have to knuckle down and do some study.”