WARRINGTON Equestrian in Co Kilkenny played host to the final of the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour. A popular league, close to 200 combinations battled it out over the three divisions for the final round which boasted €6,000, along with coveted league titles on their respective prize funds.

On hand to present the prizes, Ciara Watt, Head of Equine Sales Mervue, said: “The 10th Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour concluded with a super day of top-class jumping in the sunshine at Warrington Equestrian with fantastic entries. The league was as popular as ever, with all levels of riders and horses competing at the 12 legs around the country, with a great following all summer.

“It was inspiring to see so many talented young riders do so well this year and competing against some of the top riders in the country. Special thanks to all the competitors for their support, the host venues and the hard-working team at Showjumping Ireland for their commitment and passion throughout the summer.”

Speaking on behalf of the Leinster region, Marguerite Ryan thanked the team at Mervue for their fantastic support of the league over the past 10 years and the Leinster team of Hilda Keane, Maureen Bagnall and Taylor Vard for all their hard work behind the scenes. She thanked supporters of the league Cian O’Connor, Bertram Allen, Butcher Kilkenny, Warrington Top Flight Equestrian Centre and Premium Show Jumps by Pauric O’Neill.

Taking the league win was Francis Connors and RNH Valentino. Owned by Raymond McChesney and bred by Normand Hammond, the nine-year-old gelding is by Van Gogh out of the Beach Ball-sired mare RNH Beach Ball.

Delighted with the win, Connors said: “I’ve been fortunate to win this league before, and it’s always highly competitive - a great achievement to have on your record. The final was very exciting, and it was fantastic to see such strong numbers taking part. A big thank you to Mervue for their long-standing support of this league, and to the Leinster region for organising it. Warrington did an excellent job hosting the final, and it was lovely to have the sun shining on the day.”

Connors’ closest rival was Sven Hadley, who had clocked up 22 points with Maximum Numero Too HSH. Conor Brennan finished as the leading young rider with MHS Jersey Girl, while the leading pro-am was Niamh O’Connor Barry aboard Drumiller Vegas.

Final round

Young Leinster riders excelled in the 1.35m decider, securing five of the top six placings. Leading the victory lap in the 1.35m was local young rider Marta Hughes Bravo and HHS Figero. Late to go in the 12-way jump-off, she lodged the winning round in 35.08. This nine-year-old gelding is by Guidam out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Dreaming of U.

Waterford rider Gemma Phelan followed closely behind aboard Curraghraigue Jack Bro, delivering a clear in 36.48 for second place. The nine-year-old Orestus gelding was bred by his owner Baden Powell out of the Errigal Flight mare Curraghgraigue Errigal.

Kilkenny young rider Conor Brennan and MHS Jersey Girl was less than a second behind when clear in 37.29. Owned and bred by Sinead Byrne, the 14-year-old mare is by Cardento out of MHS Prime Time.

Kilkenny filled another spot in the line-up when young rider Abbie Oakey delivered a clear with the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood Moningo-D Van ‘T Heyveld in 39 seconds which saw them take fourth place.

Last of the double clears in 42.47, and slotting into fifth place, was Wexfords’s Bridin Doyle aboard Boleybawn Rigaletto. Owned by Hughie Doyle and bred by Ronan Rothwell, the 10-year-old mare is by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of Boleybawn Hannah.

Kilkenny’s Robin Carey and Luicruz posted the fastest time of the class, clocking 35.01, but it came at a price as they crossed the line carrying four faults for sixth place. Bred by Sean Fahey, the 10 -year-old mare is by Luidam out of All Cruz.

1.20m league

The 1.20m final attracted the largest following, with 63 combinations going to post. Amateur rider Laura Walshe (Ballinaguilkey Heritage) took the overall 1.20m league after a strong performance.

Speaking afterwards, Walshe said: “I am absolutely thrilled to win the league. I have been following it all summer, having only stepped up to 1.10m. I have a one-year-old and, at the start of the season, I didn’t know if I would have the time to compete at this level.

“It was especially meaningful to have two home-breds in the line-up, with my sister Lisa also featuring in the 1.10m on another home-bred.

“I’d like to thank Mervue and the Leinster committee for all their hard work. The rosettes, the prizes, the professionalism - the league was second to none. There was always a Mervue representative at each leg, fully invested in the series. The Leinster committee did trojan work, and they made the final a truly special day.”

Laura Walshe and Ballinaguilkey Heritage, winner of the 1.20m and 1.10m Mervue leagues with Ciara Watt and Rebecca O'Driscoll of Mervue Equine \ Trace Media

It was a win for Tipperary on the final day as amateur rider Lorraine Younge (AA) delivered the winning round in 29.24 seconds. Run as a two-phase class, the standard was high, with 46 combinations delivering double clears.

Less than a second separated the placings as fellow amateur rider Jenny Connors (AA) took the runner-up spot aboard Fiona Carew’s Fortnight, when clear in 30.16.

Making the long trip from Galway, Sven Hadley took third place with the eight-year-old Make It Easy HSH when they clocked 30.35. Along with third, Hadley also took sixth place with Uidam (31.50).

Young rider Patrick Doyle filled fourth place with Martin Fenelon’s Longhill Cruising when clear in 30.66. Local hero Emily Moloney and Cruising On the Ridge took fifth place on home soil when they came home clear in 30.98.

1.10m

The battle for the 1.10m title went down to the wire with three amateur riders battling it out. Going into the final round, it was all still to play for as Laura Walshe and Ballinaguilkey Heritage held the top spot on 47 points, while Marie Hartley and Nikita Van Het Heidenhof followed closely behind on 43 points. Holding on to third place going into the final was Lisa Doyle and Ballinaguilkey Dignified on 41 points.

In the end, it was Laura Walshe and Ballinaguilkey Heritage that claimed the title, ahead of Hartley and Nikita Van Het Heidenhof. On the young rider leaderboard, it was Kilkenny’s Brona Keane and Krafty Krackers that held her lead to claim this title.

In the final, once again, Amateur riders dominated when claiming five of the top six placings. Taking the final win was Hannah McNiven (AA) when they came home with nothing to add in 35.33. No stranger to success in this league, Marie Hartley (AA) and Nikita Van Het Heidenhof took the runner-up spot when they answered all the questions in a time of 35.64.

Lisa Doyle (AA) accounted for third place when she partnered her own eight-year-old home-bred Ballinaguilkey Dignified to a clear in 36.30. Less than a second behind was Caroline Ryan (AA) and Killerisk Conor in 36.59 for fourth place. Following in her sister’s Lisa’s (Doyle) footsteps, Laura Walshe added to the family takings, when she took fifth with her own home-bred Ballinaguilkey Heritage. Completing the top-six line-up was Junior rider Caoimhe Treacy aboard Jane Lenehan’s six-year-old Hz Dido, clear in 37.90