MARYVILLE Equestrian Centre proved to be a happy hunting ground for Kilkenny rider Ger O’Neill, as he took the honours in the TRM Show jumpers Club Spring Tour last Sunday. Riding the Castlefield Breeding Farm-owned stallion, Durango VDL, he lodged the winning round of clear in 42.98 seconds.

Not content with the win, O’Neill also claimed third place with Finnegan D, when he delivered another clear in a time of 44.93.

Speaking after the win, O’Neill said: “I am delighted with how both horses performed. Durango is a new stallion to Castlefield. He has already proven himself at top level and he has produced 1.60m show jumpers and top level event horses. It is nice to be able to show his abilities to Irish Breeders on the national circuit.”

Durango VDL, a 16-year-old stallion, was the first of many approved sons of the Keur- stallion Zirocco Blue VDL and out of the proven mother line Narona by Lux Z . This stallion has no shortage of experience, jumping up to CSI3* 1.50m-1.60m level with Ashley Fleischhacker. More recently, he jumped at CSI3* level with Wim Janssen (NED).

Owned by Deirdre Reilly, Finnegan D is a 14-year-old stallion by Singapore and was previously campaigned by Reilly and Neal Fearon up to CSI4* level in 2023. This combination finished fifth the week prior in Warrington Equestrian.

It was another well supported round, with 52 going to post and, from those, 15 contested the jump-off.

Taking the runner-up spot was fellow Kilkenny rider Linda Moloney, when she also maintained a clean sheet aboard the eight-year-old Ballinaguilkey Fusion Exchange in a time of 43.79. Owned by Andrew Fleming and bred by John and Barbara Walshe, the palomino gelding is by Tullabeg Fusion and out of the O.B.O.S Quality 004 sired dam, Ballinaguilkey Heidi. He was previously campaigned by Patrick Fleming in the young rider division. He began his career with Tracy Nolan, where they delivered impressive results in the age classes and in the studbook series. As a six-year-old, the pairing qualified for the Dublin Horse Show

Junior rider Kian Dore occupied fourth and fifth places in the line-up. Dore delivered his best result with MHS Undercover, delivering a clear in 46.09 for eventual fourth place. Owned by Annette Fitzgerald and bred by Sinead Byrne, the seven-year-old is by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet and out of the Quidam Junior I-sired dam, MHS Prime Time. This is a new mount for Dore, as the gelding was recently campaigned by Sarah Fitzgerald.

Dore also kept all the poles in place with Puerto Rico Van’T Roosakker in a time of 48.11 for fifth. Owned by Kian’s father, Carl and bred by Marc Kluskens, the nine-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding is by Kannan and out of the Echo Van T Spieveld-sired dam, Lady D Van’T Roosakker.

Shane Dalton proved that the time could be beaten, as he recorded a fast time of 41.57 with Zavy Echo, but four faults meant that he had to be content with sixth place.

1.20m class

Claiming victory in the 1.20m Munster Spring Tour (including the seven-year-old Hibernia Horses Qualifier was junior rider Bríd Ryan (JU/YR) aboard Drombane Foxy Lady, when she was fastest of 52 double clears in a time of 28.12. Shane Dalton slotted into second place with Fiona Twohig’s FJK Side Tracked (8 YO), in a time of 28.48. Kian Dore featured in this earlier class, claiming fourth with Hermines VH Bergerhof Z, in a time of 28.71 and fifth with the six-year-old Cape Tribulation, in a time of 29.40. Fifth place belonged to young rider Emma O’Connor and Quality Diamond, clear in 29.46, ahead of Emily Moloney and Capitol Cruis in a time of 31.31.

1.10m class

A total of 69 combinations went to post in the 1.10m Munster Spring Tour (including the six-year-old Hibernia Sport Horses Qualifier) and, from those, 43 delivered double clears. Leading the victory lap was Linsey Mason and the six-year old Hermes De Reve-sired gelding Ballygerald De Reve, in a time of 37.21. Also staying within the 37 second marker was Chantal Kiely and Totally Focused in a time of 37.60 for second. Gracie Johnson and the Emily Hart-owned Kannangarootook were third when they clocked 38.68, while in fourth was young rider Lucy Brady and the eight-year-old, Happy45-K Vant’Kattenheye ZD in a time of 38.71. Slotting into fifth place was amateur rider Caroline Ryan (AA) aboard her own eight-year-old Killerisk Conor, in a time of 38.85. Completing the top six was junior rider Daisy McNamara and the six-year-old Kilnamac Barbara, in a time of 39.95.

1m class

Winner of the 1m Munster Spring Tour (including the five-year-old Hibernia Sport Horse Qualifier) was Linsey Mason when she partnered Ballygerald Blue Bell to a clear in 32 seconds. Less than a second behind, clear in 32.44 and slotting into the runner-up place was amateur rider, James Noonan (A) and his own Cullinagh UG. Little separated the next place as young rider Hannah Svensson and Solstic Star came home with nothing to add in 32.88. Occupying fourth place was amateur rider Barbara Maher (A) and her own Ballygriffin Lester Man, clear in 33.69, while in fifth was Helen Gould and Coolatin Little George, clear in 35.94. A clear from Siobhan Hurley and Huntington in 36.24 saw them take sixth place.