THE national show jumping season got off to an earlier than normal start this year, with Portmore Equestrian playing host to the first round of the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour last Sunday.

Following in the footsteps of her sister Emma McEntee, who is the reigning champion, Katie McEntee left nothing to chance as she took victory in the opening round.

Riding Hip Girl, the young rider from Co Down lodged the winning round with a double clear in 35.92 seconds. Owned by Stephex Stables and bred by Tarno Sateri och Sigane, Hip Girl is a an 13-year-old Swedish-bred mare by HipHop and out of the Carthago-sired Mysterious Girl 2.

The mare is no stranger to this level of competition having had multiple wins with Katie’s older brother John in the recent past. Katie took over the ride at the back end of last year and has gelled with the mare.

In December the combination took the win in the 1.35m Grand Prix at Cavan, beating off the challenge of well-established senior riders.

Overall it was a good day for the 16-year-old as she took the runner-up place in the 1.20m with Princess Leah and fourth with Hip Girl.

Speaking after the win, Katie who is currently in fifth year in school, said: “I am delighted at how the mare jumped, she really answered all the questions. The course had a lot of turns in it, so it really suited her. I was third last to go, so I had the opportunity to see how to make up the time and the turns to take. Our plan is to follow the tour and hopefully we will clock up more results.”

Stepping stone

On duty course designer Gueorgui Gueorguiev set the track for the 18 starters, and from those eight proceed to the jump-off where six delivered double clears. The tour, which is designed to act as a stepping stone for young riders and horses, attracted just that in the first round; seven were young riders, and four of the horses were eight-year-olds.

Galway’s Sven Hadley took the runner-up spot aboard Garryduff Jar of Hearts when he clocked 36.68. Owned by James Joyce, the 11-year-old stallion is by Zandeur and out of the Furisto-sired dam Dorabella. Before Christmas, the pair competed in Belgium where they won twice at one and two-star international level.

Before Hadley took over the reins, the horse was competed successfully by his owner. While he was just under a second off the win here, Hadley didn’t go home too disappointed as he took victory in the 1.20m with Topspin.

A clear from Dermott Lennon and Athletix Hero Z in 37.29 saw him slot into third place. Bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry, the 10-year-old gelding is by Aganix Du Seigneur out of Class of Touch Hero (Radco D’Houtveld) who is a daughter of Lennon’s former world champion Liscalgot.

Athletix Hero Z is showing a lot of promise with a series of good results at home and abroad. At the back end of last year, the pair took the win in the Gain Alltech Grand Prix in Cavan and before this, finished third in the Autumn Grand Prix at Portmore. The combination has also clocked up results on the European circuit at three-star level and have proved consistent at 1.40m level. In May 2021, they took a win in Gorla Minore, a third-place finish in Dinard in July and fourth in Deauville.

Shannon Robinson and Chardonnay filled fourth place when they clocked 40.32 seconds. Owned by Joy Robinson, the 13-year-old mare is by Diarado and out of the Calato-sired Sophie I.

Eventer Cathal Daniels, who is now a familiar face in show jumping line-ups, took fifth place when he partnered his own Cappog Tomy to a clear in 40.92. The 11-year-old gelding was bred by Tommy Reilly and is by Camiro De Haar Z out of Cornacassa Ferro.

Well-related

Dermott Lennon played it safe with the eight-year-old All Pleasure Hero II Z and it paid dividends as he delivered a double clear in a time of 46.63 for sixth place. Owned by Bronte Stables, this mare is also out of a daughter of Liscalgot – Calgot Pleasure – and she is also by Aganix Du Seigneur. She was bred by HPBNL Horse Invest LTD.

Reigning champion Emma McEntee proved out of luck when she faulted at the last fence with the eight-year-old Boss Quality in a fast time of 36.70 for seventh place. Bred by Brian Treacy, the gelding is by OBOS Quality 004 out of Treacys Clover.

This combination will be one to watch this season. Among their good results towards the back end of 2021 was a runner-up finish in the HSI Development Series in Portmore.