MAY 6th marks the start of the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour with Barnadown in Gorey hosting the first round. This summer the popular tour features 12 rounds plus a final. As in previous years, the tour will cater for an array of riders over three competitions - the 1.10, the 1.20 and the 1.35m.

Waterford’s Francis Connors claimed the 1.35m overall winner title last year while Deirdre Doyle won the 1.20m title. Amateur rider Aileen McDermott (Amber Balou) took the 1.10m title. It was also a good series for Limerick’s Robyn Moran who took the leading young rider prize in the 1.20m and was runner-up in the 1.10m. Annie Boland won the overall leading young rider in the 1.35m tour.

Good prizes

The 2022 tour boasts lucrative prize funds with the overall winner of the 1.35m taking home €2,000 while €1,000 will go to the runner-up. The winning young rider in the 1.35m will win the Ballywalter Farm Bursary with international showjumper Bertram Allen. In the 1.20m division, the winner will take home (horse & rider combination) €1,000 along with Mervue Equine products, while the runner-up will win €500 and Mervue Equine products. There is also a prize for the leading young rider combination. In the 1.10m division with overall winner (rider and horse combination) will receive €1,000 plus products, while the runner-up will take home €500 plus Mervue products. Again there is also a prize for the leading young rider.

The overall league winners in the 1.10m, 1.20m 1.35m and the Top Young Rider in the overall 1.35m league will win the Karlswood prize. This is an afternoon with Cian O’Connor to watch him coach his students followed by a Q&A session, lunch and a tour of Karlswood.

Marketing manager of Mervue Equine, Rebecca O’Driscoll, said: “We are delighted to collaborate once again with the Leinster Region on the continued sponsorship of the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour 2022. We see these tours as a great fit for the Mervue Equine brand and it enables us to demonstrate our ongoing support to the committed riders and upcoming talent within the Showjumping sector. We would like to wish the best of luck to all participating this year!”

SJI’s Taylor Vard added: “The Leinster Region is delighted to once again join forces with Mervue Equine for the 2022 Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour. This will be the seventh year of this tour and collaboration with Mervue Equine and we would like to thank Mervue Equine for their sponsorship and continued commitment to the show jumping sector.”