MULLINGAR Equestrian was a hive of activity last weekend, as it played host to the Easter Horse Festival. On Sunday, the TRM Show jumpers Club Spring Tour took centre stage, with 71 combinations going to post. Victory on this occasion belonged to junior rider Katie Nallon, when she had the fastest of just two double clears aboard Ecklands Helado, in a time of 41.42 seconds.

Speaking after the win, Nallon said: “I am absolutely delighted to win here today. Tommy Gibbons built a challenging and technical track and, with close to 80 competitors in the class, I knew this competition was going to be tough. Ecklands Helado has been showing great form lately, having won the 1.35m qualifier for Balmoral RUAS Show two weekends ago. As a result, going into the jump-off I was confident that she was well able for the challenge. It was a big track and I knew I needed to be very quick and tight in order to take the win. I was fifth in the jump-off and am delighted with the way Ecklands competed. I am looking forward to the year ahead with her and I am very grateful to Duffy Sport Horses for giving me the opportunity to compete with their horses and also to all my other owners. I would like to thank the groom.”

Owned by Sandra Duffy/Ireland Horse Sport and Leisure Ltd and bred by Eckland Sport Horses, the 10-year-old mare is by Cobra and is out of the HHS BR Charlton-sired dam, Annaghmore Charisma. In January, this combination finished in sixth place in the 1.40m CSI2* Big Tour in Kelsalll HIll.

Of the original starters, eight booked their place against the clock and five finished on four faults, with the top six finishers coming home within the 44 second mark.

Double clear

Aimee Barry delivered the other double clear with Garryndruig Limoncello in a time of 41.83 for second place. Owned by Joe Barry and bred by Geri McGeoghan-Santry, Garryndruig Limoncello is an 11-year-old mare, by Amaretto Darco and is out of the Cruising-sired dam, Garryndruig Cruising Akademi. Bought from Fergal Harrison in 2020, the combination has clocked up points in this series, claiming second in the round at Banner Equestrian.

Junior rider Katie McEntee proved that the time could be beaten, when she clocked 40.73 aboard Kinmar Bespoke, but with a pole on the ground, they had to settle for third place. Owned and bred by Gerry Marron, the 10-year-old gelding is by O-Piloth and is out of the Aganix Du Seigneur-sired dam, Absolutely Kingmar Z. This combination started the season well, taking the 1.30m Grand Prix in Portmore New Year Horse Show.

Annabel Shields also had a pole on the ground with Creevagh Carisma, but a fast time of 40.74 saw her take fourth place and, as a result, added valuable points to her leaderboard tally. This combination currently holds the top spot on the leaderboard on 45 points. 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 has proved very consistent in this league, taking wins in Jag Equestrian, Killossery, Wexford Equestrian and third in Warrington.

Cathal Daniels and Cappog Tomy crossed the line carrying four faults in a time of 43.39 for fifth place. The 13-year-old gelding was bred by Tommy Reilly and is by Camiro De Haar Z and out of the S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe-sired dam, Cornacassa Ferro. This combination finished third in the round in Wexford Equestrian.

Junior rider Bríd Ryan completed the top six, when she finished on four faults with Ne Touche Pas Van De Rostal in a time of 43.87. Owned by Eugene Ryan and bred by Paul Peeters, the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare is by Falco and is out of the Lux Z-sired dam, Resi Lux. Ryan began campaigning the mare in 2023 and has progressed her up the ranks from 1m up to 1.40m.

1.25m

There was another good following for the Seven-year-old Hibernian League, with 76 combinations going to post. Claiming victory was Barry Griffin and SBH Diamond in the Rough, when they delivered a double clear in a time of 32.68 seconds. Sven Hadley was back in the ribbons for another week, taking the runner-up spot with his own Topspin, when they came home clear in 33.31. Dermott Lennon accounted for the next two placings, taking third with the seven-year-old Kinmar Right On Time, clear in 34.25, and fourth with the eight-year-old For Kinmar Hero Z, clear in 34.65. Hadley was back in the line-up, slotting into fifth with the seven-year-old Make It Easy, clear in 35.93, while in sixth was Jake Hunter and the eight-year-old, CSF Andrew, clear in 37.20.

1.15m

Bríd Ryan got her day off to a good start, as she took the win in the 1.15m class (inc Six-year-old Hibernian League) with Drombane Foxy Lady, when clear in 24.07 seconds. A clear from Louis Mellier on the six-year-old Carrick Quidams Flake in a time of 27.06 saw them take second, while in third was junior rider Jamie Hargaden and Geron RS, clear in 28.07. Fellow junior rider, Maeve Clarke accounted for eventual fourth, when she partnered Ukato Cruise, to a clear in 28.16. Sven Hadley added to his haul when he took fifth with the six-year-old Maximum Numero Too HSH, clear in 28.19. Louis Mellier took another place in the line, slotting into sixth with the six-year-old Carrick Quidams Ambassador, clear in 28.30.

1.05m

The top three places in the 1.05m class (inc Five-year-old Hibernian League) were claimed by amateur riders. Leading the victory lap was Megan Browne (A) and Thorton Chester, clear in 31.13. Browne was chased home by Craig Lovett (A) and Sligo Candy Call, clear in 32.46, ahead of Joseph Moore (A) and Master De Reve, clear in 33.01. Taking a more cautious approach and slotting into fourth was Jim Donohoe and Laura O’Connor’s five-year-old, Carrigshawn Condi, clear in 36.45. Evan Burke also played it safe with the five-year-old Harvey By HSH, delivering a clear in 38.14 for fifth. Completing the top six line-up was young rider Fionnghuala Benson aboard the five-year-old Barleyhill Airborne, clear in 38.66.

SJI Summer Series - 1.30m Mini Grand Prix

On Saturday, 50 combinations lined out for the 1.30 Mini Grand Prix and Summer Series qualifier. Sven Hadley dominated this line-up and took three of the top six placings. The Galway rider claimed the win aboard Uidam, when he was the fastest of 14 double clears in the two-phase class in a time of 30.09. Derek McConnell also had his foot to the floor with Longfield Quinlui and came home in a time of 30.96 for second. Hadley returned to claim third place with HSH Harper Du Seigneur, clear in 33.92, and fourth with Sumas Taloubet, clear in 34.75. Slotting into fifth place was Jim Donohoe and Culdearg Clover Lad, clear in 35.67, while in sixth was Damien Griffin and Mullaghroy Fireheart, clear in 38.03.

Taking the win in the 1.20m Summer Series Qualifier was junior rider Aine Shorthall and Killerisk Can Ya, clear in 35.16, ahead of fellow junior rider Siobhan Doyle and the six-year-old Balief Capri, clear in 36.17. Not content with the win, Doyle also took third with the seven-year-old Dante Dv Z, clear in 37.60.

There was a good following for the 1.10m Summer Series Qualifier, with 85 combinations going to post. Amateur riders took the first three slots and best of those was Aileen McDermott (AA) and Amber Balou, clear in 27.09. Kerrie Anderson (AA) and Bernadette Lady H took second place when they came home clear in 27.98, while in third was Kevin O’Reilly (AA) and Furore S, clear in 28.11.

Claiming victory in the 1m division was junior rider Amber Cotton and the six-year-old Fortside Bonnarro, when they kept all the poles in place in a time of 31.74. Amateur rider Angela Devaney (A) claimed the runner-up spot when she came home clear in a time of 32.22 with Cobra Khan. Slotting into third was junior rider Kaitlyn de Kleer and Royale Dutchess, clear in 33.15.

Taking the win in the 90cm was amateur rider Laura Carrick (A) aboard My Foxy Lass, clear in 32.29. Fellow amateur rider Lisa Doran (A) and the five-year-old Cassanovas Diamond claimed the runner-up spot, when they put in a faultless round in a time of 37.87. Sports member Yvonne Garrett Brady and Bye Bye Berty, took third when they delivered a clear in 38.58.