FOLLOWING a two-week break, the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour returned last Sunday with Ballivor playing host to the third round of the league.

The 1.35m attracted a good following with 28 going to post in the Farrell’s Pharmacy-sponsored two-phase class. The standard was high with half the field delivering double clears and for those in the top six, only fractions of a second divided them in the line-up.

Fastest of those and taking the win was Arklow’s Brendan Murphy. Riding the Ashley Stephen-owned PNP Rocco and eighth to go in the class, he delivered the winning round in a time of 31.57.

PNP Rocco is a 15-year-old gelding by Chaca out of Scoole Hill Clover. This combination are no strangers to success at this level, having recently claimed victory in the Orthoderm 1.35m Championship at Balmoral in May.

Murphy was chased home by Dermott Lennon who was fractions behind with Millview Cicero, clocking 31.91. Owned by Bronte Stables and bred by Harry Marshall, this nine-year-old gelding is by Cicero z van Paemal out of Royal Dutch.

Less than half a second separated the next placing as Aoife Dooley partnered Cavalier Teaca to a clear in 32.21 for third. Owned by Marguerite Ryan, this 16-year-old mare is by Gildawn out of Cavalier Royale-sired Teaca.

Young rider Annie Courtney-Cadam wasted no time with the eight-year-old LCC Emerald Vigo and crossed the line in a time of 32.24 for eventual fourth place. Owned by Linda Courtney and bred by Donnacha Quinn, the gelding is by Vigo d’Arsouilles out of Emerald Inovative.

A clear from Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Cliodam in 33.21 saw him take fifth place. Owned and bred by Richard JW Smyth, the eight-year-old mare is by Luidam out of the HHS BR Charlton-sired Charlton Clio.

In a brilliant attempt to take the lead, John Murray and Blossom Elouise galloped home in 33.52, but this only proved good enough for sixth place. Owned by John Tracy and bred by Kinghtfield, the 11-year-old mare is by Guidam out of Azalee De Messitert.

1.20m

The 1.20m division attracted the largest following with 46 combinations going to post in the Castlerickard Farm Showjumping-sponsored class. Claiming the winner’s share of the €1,000 prize fund on offer was Mark Cleary on the Michael Hayden-owned Primo Aliboo Blue ABF, clear in 40.10. Bred by Taylor Flury this eight-year-old Belgian warmblood is by Chacco Blue out of the Roc USA-sired Role Model.

Ger O’Neill opted for the longer route with Martin Egan’s five-year-old Ballyshan B F Super Hero, crossing the line clear in 40.56 for second place. A clear from Barry Griffin on his own SBH Diamond in the Rough in a time of 42.23 proved good enough for third place.

Dermott Lennon was back in the line-up, this time taking fourth place with Gerry Marron’s six-year-old Kinmar Right On Time, clear in 42.70.

Emma McEntee clocked up another result for Castlefield Breeding Farm as she delivered a clear with the five-year-old mare Castlefield Dancer in 42.77 for fifth place. Little separated the next placing as Kenneth Graham answered all the questions with Regula Wassmer’s KEC Dorian in a time of 42.83 for sixth.

1.10m

A total of 13 combinations battled it out in the Glynn Construction & Maintenance-sponsored round, with four double clears being delivered.

A familiar face in the line-ups in this league, amateur Kilkenny rider Marie Hartley delivered the winning round in a time of 34.78 aboard her reliable Nikita Van Het Heidenhof. This win comes off the back of a series of placings in Mullingar International show, which included third in the 1.10m Derravarra Championship.

Not content with the win, Hartley also took second place with Scarthill Vendi, clocking 35.50.

Young rider Chloe Duffy’s decision to play it safe with her own seven-year-old Carrigeen Buachaill paid off as they crossed the line clear in 48.88 for third place.

Lisa Cleary was less than a second behind the Michael Hayden-owned Drumiller Design, clocking 49.29 for eventual fourth.

Young rider Hallie Crowe proved out of luck when she had one on the ground with her own five-year-old gelding, SVS Riverstown Aftershock in 44.03 for fifth place.

Also finishing on four faults, albeit in a slower time of 45.91, was junior rider Grace Dehaene on the six-year-old Bluestone Diamond Fly for sixth place.