RIDERS were back out in force last weekend, as 47 combinations contested the first round of the 1.35m TRM Show jumpers’ Club Spring Tour at Jag Equestrian last Sunday. Taking the opening win was English rider, Annabel Shields, when she partnered Creevagh Carisma to a double clear in 33.82 seconds in what was a two-phase class. Owned by Shields and bred by the late Ronnie Hollinger, Creevagh Carisma is a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Camiro De Haar Z and out of Creevagh Duca Di Clover. This combination ended the 2023 season on a positive note, with a series of good results in October. At the start of the month, they claimed second place in the 1.45m Grand Prix in Lier CSI2*, a win in a 1.40m class in Dunkerque CSI2* and second place in a 1.50m in Opglabeek CSI3*.

Speaking after Sunday’s win, Shields said: “I was delighted with the win and I felt that the course designer set a very nice course. The standard was high in the class and I knew that I needed to take the tight turns to be in with a shot. The mare is naturally quick, so I knew I could ask her to take the tight lines. She jumped in some big classes at the back end of last year and it was nice to start the season at this level.

“I am based with Sven Hadley for a month with four horses and I plan to take in the round with Cavan. The younger horses also went well at the weekend, so I am looking forward to the next few outings.”

From the original starting field, a total of 14 combinations found the key to the Tom Holden-designed course and delivered clear rounds.

Kilkenny’s Vincent Byrne came closest to catching the winner, when he was almost two seconds slower aboard the Kayleigh Sodden-owned Irish Sport Horse CBI Bella Donna, stopping the clock in a time of 35.64. Bred by Aidan Carroll, the nine-year-old mare is by Zapatero VDL and out of the Luidam-sired dam, CSF Lulu.

Junior rider Eoin Brennan also answered all the questions aboard Limestone Briarhill Lui, but failed to catch Byrne, when stopping the clock with nothing to add in a time of 35.92 for third place. Bred by Anne Coyne and owned by Tim Brennan, the 11-year-old mare is by Kings Cornet and out of the Luidam- sired mare, Briarhill Cruise. This combination is no stranger to this level, having delivered results last year at Grand Prix level.

Francis Connors accounted for the next two placings in the line-up. The Waterford rider delivered his best result with Carrigshawn Vendi Royal, delivering a clear in 37.10 for eventual fourth place. Owned by Francis, Jenny and Kate Connors, the nine-year-old mare was bred by John Warner and is by Dondoctro Ryal K, out of Carrigshawn Vendi and has already shown great scope, finishing second in the Plusvital 1.55m/1.60m Grand Prix in the Irish Breeders’ Classic in September 2023 and third in the Autumn Grand Prix in Wexford.

Connors returned to take fifth place with RNH Valentino, coming home clear in a time of 37.94. Bred by Normand Hammond and owned by Raymond McChesney, the nine-year-old gelding is by Van Gogh and out of the Beach Ball-sired dam, RNH Beach Ball. He was previously campaigned by Jack O’Donohue.

Completing the top six line-up was Meath rider Niamh O’Connor Barry on her own Drumiller Vegas, who delivered a foot-perfect round in a time of 38.04. Bred by Paul Dillion, the nine-year-old gelding is by Cardento and is out of the Rockhill Clover-sired dam, Meabhs Clover.

1.30m

Winner of Saturday’s 1.30m class was Sven Hadley, when he partnered his own nine-year-old stallion HSH Harper Du Seigneur to a double clear in 27.66 seconds. Bred by Hadley Sport Horses, the stallion is by Aganix Du Seigneur and is out of the Chippson-sired dam, Covers Chip. Annabel Shields also featured in this line-up, taking second place with the eight-year-old Lapstan, when clear in 29.01. Robert Splaine partnered the eight-year-old Coolcorron Lachlan to a clear in 32.55 for third. Accounting for fourth place was Declan McEvoy and BLM Cosmopolitan Dandy, when they kept all the poles in place in a time of 33.53. Robert Splaine was back in the money, taking fifth place with the seven-year-old Coolcorron Lone Ranger, when clear in 33.55. Local rider Edward Doyle took sixth place, when he delivered a clear with the eight-year-old Charly Brown Van Overis Z, when they crossed the line in a time of 35.08.

Sven Hadley and Topspin, winners of the 1.25m class at the TRM SJC Spring Tour at Jag Equestrian on Sunday \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

1.25m

On Sunday, 47 combinations contested the 1.25m class (including Seven-year-old Hibernia Sport Horses Qualifier). Leading the victory lap for the second time was Sven Hadley. This time, the Galway rider partnered the Hadley Sport Horse-owned Topspin to a clear in 27.59. Annabel Shields added to her record, as she took the runner-up spot with the seven-year-old B.E Flygold, when she came home clear in 28.73. Hadley was back in the line-up, taking third place with the stallion, HSH Harper Du Seigneur, clear in 29.07 and fourth with Holmoak Koln, clear in 29.17. Slotting into fifth place was Lisa Maria Leonard and the eight-year-old MSH Unlimited, clear in 29.80. Young rider Jazmine Arthur completed the top six line-up with Karen Kerr’s eight-year-old, All That Jazz, jumping clear in 30.68.

1.15m

The 1.15m class (including Six-year-old Hibernia Sport Horses Qualifier) attracted the largest following, with 59 combinations battling it out. Claiming this win was junior rider Bríd Ryan and Drombane Foxy Lady, when clear in 23.39. Second place belonged to Ellen Murphy and Cidam K, clear in 25.30, ahead of Sven Hadley and the seven-year-old, Manorview Lady Jane 17, clear in 25.45. Accounting for eventual fourth was young rider Jazmine Arthur and the eight-year-old, All That Jazz, clear in 25.97, while in fifth place was junior rider Katie Duggan and the seven-year-old, Aboy Duggie, clear in 27.22. Completing the top six was amateur rider Jenny O’Donoghue [AA] and Tolan Noir, clear in 28.07.

1.05m

Winner of the 1.05m Two-Phase (including Five-year-old Hibernia Sport Horses Qualifier) was junior rider Johnnie Sheppard and Galtee Shadow, when they were the fastest of 16 double clears from a starting field of 43 in a time of 28.36. Taking the runner-up spot was Eoghan Murphy and the eight-year-old Luv U Forever, in 30.46, ahead of Patrick Murphy [AA] and the six-year-old Spink Piloth in a time of 31.84. Sara Pothmann Cullen and the six-year-old True Detective, clear in 32.12, saw them take fourth place, while in fifth was Heidi Hamilton and Wild Card Spin Off, in 32.46. Ailsa Sexton took sixth place with her own five-year-old Wyanstown Daisy, when they crossed the line in a time of 33.35.

Amateurs

Jag Equestrian also played host to two amateur classes last Saturday. Victory in the opening stakes belonged to Joseph Moore [A] aboard his own Our Rags to Riches, when he delivered the winning round, jumping clear in 22.37. Taking the runner-up spot was fellow A rider, Fiona Brady, clear in 24.65, ahead of Selina Osborne [A] and RTS Lisa, clear in 24.85. Fourth place belonged to Kim McInerney [A] and Dicksgrove Bellatrix, clear in 24.98, while in fifth was Jemma Kendellen [A] and her own seven-year-old Fortunus Pleasure, clear in 25.29. Completing the top six, was Katie Warner [A] (YR) and BF Riverfield Luxardo, clear in 25.59.

Taking the win in the Amateur Two-Phase was Olwyn Alexander [AA], when she was fastest of 12 double clears aboard her own Faline, in a time of 22.03. Taking the runner-up spot was Grainne Alexander (A), when she came home in a time of 23.16 with Cheeky Blonde. Taking third was Amy Mitchell [AA] and Kilbrackan Cassal, when they stopped the clock in a time of 24.20.

Accounting for eventual fourth place was Laura Clinton [A] and Furore S, crossing the line in 24.44, ahead of fifth placed Sinead Behan [A] and MB Daddy’s Dollars in a time of 25.15. Slotting into sixth place was Jemma Kendellen [A] with Fortunus Pleasure in a time of 25.56.