THE pressure was mounting as riders headed to Mullingar Equestrian Easter Festival last Sunday in a bid to put points on the board in the penultimate round of the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour.

Securing their second win of the series, having previously won at Cavan, was Nicole Kershaw and Clovalent. The combination delivered the winning round when fastest of 10 double clears in 35.86 seconds. This result means that they currently share sixth place on the overall leaderboard with Cathal Daniels and EMS Adelaide on 20 points.

Speaking after the win, Kershaw said: “We were all extremely happy with the win as it was our first win over a 1.40m course. I started riding her two years ago at 1.10m and it’s great to see her progress so well. She has really stepped up to the mark and is super consistent and just gets better and better.”

Regarding the course, Kershaw added: “I was ninth to go and I got to see the first rider before I warmed up. There were a fair number of clears, so I knew that I couldn’t hang around. She is very careful so I knew that I could trust her. I took a tight line back to the double in the jump-off, but I knew that I could trust her to do this.”

Owned by Keonan Stables and bred by Mary McCann, this eight-year-old mare is by Valent out of the Cruising-sired Cruising May Clover.

Competitive

In total 47 combinations went to post and from those, 20 booked their place against the clock. The course was up to height and asked a few questions. In the first round, it started off strong with a tall vertical. Moving up to fence five, there was an oxer over a water tray and then on to a triple. This was followed by two tall verticals and oxer and then the penultimate test, a double (oxer-vertical), before heading home.

In the jump-off, the course began with the oxer at 14, followed by a tall vertical. Riders then proceeded right to the oxer with the water tray and then on to what was the first part of triple. They could then make up time in the turn to the CWD vertical at fence eight, before a tight turn back to the double (oxer-vertical) and then on to the final oxer.

Ausra Clarke and Janco-V took the runner-up place when she answered all the questions in 37.74. Owned by Gregory Clarke and bred by C.A.J. Verhoeven, the nine-year-old gelding is by Dakar VDL out of the Zirocco Blue VDL-sired Dakarla-V. They placed fourth in the round at Barnadown. The combination competed in Oliva at the start of the year and among their good results was second in the CSI1* 1.40m Grand Prix.

Cathal Daniels and Cappog Tomy added points to the board when they took third after they came home with nothing to add in a time of 37.80. The 12-year-old gelding was bred by Tommy Reilly and is by Camiro De Haar Z out of Cornacassa Ferro. This combination had previously placed second in the round at Cavan and in the opening round at JAG Equestrian. Daniels had won the round the previous week at Barnadown with EMS Adelaide.

Also chasing points, Sven Hadley wasted no time with the stallion Phenomene Bleu VDM and slotted into fourth place when clear in 39.68. Owned by Euro Horse’s Axel Verloy, the eight-year-old stallion is by Diamant De Semilly out of the Nabab De Reve-sired Nuance Bleue VDM Z.

At the back end of last year, Hadley competed the stallion in Europe in CSI1* shows, taking in Lier and Nice and was placed on several occasions. He has also proved extremely consistent in this league.

Fifth place belonged to Aimee Barry and Garryndruig Limoncello, when they clocked 40.15. This combination claimed victory in the round at Warrington. Owned by Joe Barry and bred by Geri McGeoghan-Santry, Garryndruig Limoncello is a 10-year-old mare by Amaretto Darco out of the Cruising-sired Garryndruig Cruising Akademi.

Slotting into sixth place was Heinrich Anhold and Landlord 56 when they were fractions behind in a time of 40.49. Owned by Anhold, the 15-year-old gelding is by Böckmann’s Lord Pezi out of Corlando-sired Wacora. The pairing has recently returned from competition in Oliva CSI1*.

Final set for Coilóg Equestrian

It’s still all to play for as the final of the league will take place at Coilóg tomorrow (Sunday, April 16th). Heading into the final, Sven Hadley and Phenomene Bleu VDM are in top position on 48 points, followed by Timmy Brennan and GCS Ita on 42 points. Eoin Brennan and Eskola M are on 30 points. Aimee Barry and Garryndruig Limoncello have accumulated 23 points, while Cathal Daniels has clocked up 22 points.

The winning combination of the Tour will take home €3,000, the runner-up combination €1,500 and third place €500. The top Young Rider in the league will receive the title of TRM Young Rider 2023 Ambassador.