VICTORY in the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour at Tipperary Equestrian last Sunday went to Shane Dalton. Riding Ennisnag Stud’s eight-year-old ESI Julius, he was the fastest of 19 double clears in a time of 23.19 seconds.
Bred by Ennisnag, this grey gelding is by Aganix Du Seigneur and is out of Triest Star. Dalton took over the ride this time last year from Billy Sinnott and the combination have proved very consistent in the age classes.
There was another good turnout for this week’s leg, with 61 taking on the Tom Holden-designed course. Of the original starters, 19 booked their place against the clock.
There was only a split-second dividing the next placing, as Lt. Ruari Clarke and Bonmahon Beach stopped the clock in 23.41. This was the second runner-up placing for this combination, having finished second at the round in Kernans. Owned by the Minister of Defence and bred by Richard Fitzgerald, the 11-year-old gelding is by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof and is out of the Temple Clover-sired dam Bonmahon Tanya. This gelding was previously owned by Olivia Roycroft, who competed him in the age classes.
Winner of the Tour in Maryville last weekend with Cevann, Liam O’Meara added to his tally when he rode the stallion Sir Jim Jim into third with a clear in 25.19. Owned by O’Meara, this 11-year-old is by Boherdale Clover and is out of the Errigal Flight-sired dam Glenaguile Flight, whom O’Meara campaigned up to Grand Prix Level. This line goes back to Ballinvella. Sir Jim Jim’s progeny were also placed in the DAFM classes the day before, with Maxi JJ delivering a double clear in the six-year-old division and Done Decision delivering a double clear in the five-year-olds. JJS Girl, a 148cm pony by Sir Jim Jim ridden by Jessica Carter, finished third in the 1.20m Equipe Spring Tour in Glenamaddy on the same weekend.
Eoghan Fahy was also back in the ribbons, having finished sixth in Maryville with Origi Van De Bandam. They showed an improvement in form to take fourth place when they stopped the clock in 25.46. Owned by Chedington Equestrian and bred by Nele Bonte, the Belgian Warmblood is a 12-year-old by Cooper Vd Heffinick and is out of the Indorado-sired dam, Joko Ono Van De Bandam. This combination has proved very consistent in this series, finishing fifth in the round in Wexford after winning the round the week before in Cavan.
Not content with the win, Dalton also took fifth place with ESI Alexander, when they put in another foot-perfect performance in a time of 25.66. Owned by Ennisnag Stud, this nine-year-old gelding is by Lamm De Fatan and is out of the Tygo-sired dam, Adelheid.
Winner of the round at Warrington, Max Foley added to his record sheet, taking sixth place with the eight-year-old HHS Madonna, when they galloped home in 26.04. Owned by Marion Hughes, this gelding is by Luidam and is out of the Ready Boy Des Forets-sired dam Babou Derick. This combination added to their overall tally, having finished fourth in the round in Maryville.
1.25m
The 1.25m class (incorporating the six-year-old Hibernian Horse qualifier) attracted the largest number of entries, with 84 going to post in the two-phase class. Leading this victory lap was Sven Hadley and Make It Easy HSH with a clear in 27.72. Zaid Ali Raad took the runner-up spot with the six-year-old Casla Dawn with a clear in 28.17. A clear from Martin O’Meara and Kennysflight in 28.53 saw him take third, while in fourth was Tadhg Beecher and Loughnatousa Flamenco, clear in 28.93. Fifth place belonged to Alannah O’Donoghue and Fairy Fort, clear in 28.99, while Eddie Moloney and the eight-year-old Star Van De Heffinck completed the top six, with a clear in 29.23.
Studbook Series
Last Saturday marked the start of the DAFM Studbook Show jumping Series, with good entries in all divisions at Tipperary Equestrian. In the five-year-old division, 42 went to post and 28 delivered double clears to share the €2,000 prize fund. In the six-year-old division, 39 went to post and 26 delivered double clears and shared the €2,200 prize fund.
In the seven-year-old class, 30 combinations battled it out and 16 delivered double clears. Fastest of those and taking the win was Max Foley and HHS Lexington with a time of 27.34. Owned and bred by Marion Hughes, the gelding is by Luidam and is out of the Cavalier Royale-sired dam Chantilly Lace. Less than half a second divided the next placings, as young rider Coen Williams and Parc Violeta, stopped the clock in 27.85. Bred by Paula Williams, the mare is by Kannan and out of the Emilion-sired dam Ulanda D.
Gemma Phelan and Lance Corporal accounted for third place when they stopped the clock in 28.67. Owned by Beechfield Stables Ltd and Kellistown Stud, and bred by Louise Thompson, the gelding is by Corporal VDL and is out of LV-Firefly.
Phelan also took fifth with Sumas Lumen with a clear in 29.75. Owned and bred by Suma Stud, the mare is by Ard VDL Douglas and out of the Master Imp-sired dam, Cill Mhuire Imp.
Sophie Richards and the Maurice Cousins-owned Kincullia Draco took fourth when they came home in 28.91. Bred by Andy Griffin, the gelding is by Greenvale Draco and out of Kincullia Beauty.
Rounding off the top six was Robyn Moran and Brian O’Malley’s Clever Quay when they stopped the clock in 29.84. This gelding is by Orestus and out of the Lux Z-sired dam Clever Queen Lux.