WICKLOW’s Brendan Murphy added valuable points to his tally on the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Tour leaderboard with a win at Bannow and Rathangan.

Riding PNP Rocco, he delivered a double clear in a time of 28.62 seconds in the €2,000 Artic Tack Stud & Bannow & Rathangan Show-sponsored class. Local rider Taylor Peare was just fractions behind aboard Lissyegan Geoffrey (28.95). Taylor also took home the leading young rider prize of the round.

Nicola FitzGibbon also kept all the poles in place with Emily May in 31.80 for third place. Vincent Byrne came home with nothing to add with the eight-year-old Jackson Vive in 32.64 for fourth. Isabel Fitzpatrick opted for the longer route with Fourth of July and crossed the line in 33.32 for fifth. Waterford’s Paddy O’Donnell took sixth place with the seven year old Kikedou when he answered all the questions in 37.60.

In the 1.20m division, sponsored by John Ellard Dentistry and Gavin O’Brien Farrier, Gillian Bond recorded another victory when she partnered Vicomte DH Z to a clear in 33.50. Sarah O’Donnell played it safe with Diamond Infinity, going clear in 35.38 for second.

Linda Murphy came home clear in 35.78 aboard the Susan Fitzpatrick-owned Sam Salad for third place. Slotting into fourth, clear in 37.08 was Cian Byrne with Hunters Lodge Puissance. Patrick Whelan made no mistakes with his own Footfall, crossing the line in 37.77 for fifth, ahead of Vincent Byrne and the Michael Hutchinson-owned Koluno C (7YO), who was also clear in 38.02.

The 1.10m Boggan-sponsored class attracted the largest entry with 40 combinations. It was certainly a good day for Brendan Murphy as he claimed another victory. Riding Castlelawn Diamond Junior, he delivered the winning clear in 25.29. Galway’s Sven Hadley took the runner-up spot, clear in 25.30 aboard the Carroll Produce-owned Fabuleu Vd Watertoren.

Accounting for third and claiming the young rider prize was Emma O’Connor and Quality Diamond, clear in 25.32, while in fourth was last week’s winners Laura Walsh and Ballinaguilkey Heritage, clear in 25.65. Sarah O’Donnell was back in the ribbons taking fifth with Diamond Infinity, clear in 26.06, ahead of Maisie Adams and Jatendra.

Killossery round

At Killossery Lodge Stud, 27 combinations went to post in the 1.35m division and taking the win was young rider Taylor Peare, who delivered a double clear with Lissyegan Geoffrey in 43.60. Event rider Camilla Speirs was less than a second behind with her own eight-year-old Ogue BT Special in 44.58 to take the runner-up spot.

Lt James White cemented his place on the leaderboard as he took third place with Carrigoran (44.78), ahead of Edward Doyle and Flexability, who kept the poles in place in 46.18. Nicola FitzGibbon and Emily May slotted into fifth place, fastest of the four faulters in 45.55. Completing the top six-line-up was Jenny Rankin and Ibiza J.W.B, who also had one on the ground in 50.26.

Gillian Bond struck again as she led the victory lap in the 1.20m. Riding her own Vicomte DH Z, she lodged the winning clear in 35.47. Young rider Oisin Magee and Landslide AW came home with nothing to add in 40.61 for second, ahead of fellow young rider Shauna Curtis and Knockbrack Diamond Lady, clear in 40.73. Fourth belonged to Hannah Fleming and the seven-year-old Ritter who kept all the poles in place in 41.16, while in fifth was amateur rider Vanessa Blair and ABC Cooley, clear in 42.55. A clear from Joyce Veld and Corraghoe Bounce in 43.28 saw them take sixth place.

Amateur rider, Aileen McDermott (AA) and Amber Balou are proving to be a force to be reckoned with and again led the victory lap in the 1.10m division, clear in 29.41.

Another hot contender is Marie Hartley (AA) who chased McDermott home aboard Nikita Van Het Heidenhof, clocking 30.86 for second. Michael Floody also kept all the poles in place with Indella in 32.80 to take third. Marie Hartley was back in the ribbons, clinching fourth place with Scarthill Vendi, clear in 32.85. Junior rider Sunnibhe Stassin took fifth with RNH Factor 1, clear in 33.74, ahead of Orla Cassidy and Wrenwood Khaleesi (34.79).