KILKENNY young rider Robin Carey scored a double win at CoilÓg on Easter Sunday when he won the final round and the overall title in the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour league. Carey was also crowned the leading young rider and, as a result, is set to join the TRM young rider ambassador portfolio.

Carey, riding his own Luicruz, delivered the winning round in a time of 38.03 in an exciting 12-way jump-off. The 10-year-old mare by Luidam was bred by Sean Fahey out of the Puissance-sired All Cruz. She was purchased by the family as a three-year-old at the Goresbridge Sales.

This combination proved consistent over the course of the league with wins in Tipperary and Maryville, sixth in Warrington and third in JAG to complete on 49 points.

Speaking after the win, Carey said: “I couldn’t ask for a better start to the year to be honest. The Spring Tour is a good stepping stone to just get the younger horses up to the top level and then even for the older horses to start the year off. It’s not too big, but also competitive enough to prepare you for the year.

“Luicruz has been in the family a long time. My brother produced from a four to six-year-old and he left for a little while so I took her over. I was delighted to have her; I couldn’t ask for a better match. I would like to thank TRM for sponsoring this league and I look forward to working with them as a brand ambassador.”

Ronan Corrigan, Chairman of the Showjumpers Club, commented: “It was a very exciting final and it really shows the calibre of young riders and horses that we have on the circuit. Overall, it was a successful tour that promotes young riders and upcoming horses who are preparing for the National Grands Prix. We are delighted that TRM continue to support this sector, sport and industry and so early in the season.”

Huge talent

Also present on the day was TRM’s Managing Director Raoul Masterson who added: “I’m just amazed how every year there’s a whole new crop of talented riders. I’ve never seen anything like the talent in this country. We definitely have the best riders in the world and you can see it running from something like the Spring Tour right up to the Nations Cups. We are competing against nations with huge resources, and we are doing this very successfully. Seeing Robin and Max going head-to-head week after week, it’s been a great pleasure for us - congratulations Robin, you’re a winner today.”

A total of 22 combinations lined out in a bid to lodge the winning round over the Tom Holden-designed course and from those just five delivered double clears in the €3,000 host-sponsored class. This final also included the Hibernia Young Horse seven/eight-year-old final.

The runner-up place belonged to Harry Wood when he partnered BP Limitless to a clear in 38.63. Owned by Max O’Reilly Hyland and bred by Austin Broderick, the 10-year-old gelding is by Elvis Ter Putte out of the Laughton’s Flight mare Ballypatrick Flight. This gelding ended 2024 under the guidance of Niamh McEvoy winning the 1.40m Grand Prix at the Irish Breeders’ Classic and the 1.40m Autumn Grand Prix in Mullingar Autumn Horse Championships.

Slotting into third place was Ethen Ahearne and LVS Goldrush H when they were just over a second behind in a time of 40.78. Owned by Dermot Walsh and bred by Heritage Bloodstock, the nine-year-old gelding is by Stakkato Gold out of Arcadia LVS Z.

Cathal Daniels opted for the safer lines with his own eight-year-old Ardragh Lucky Lass, lodging a clear in a time of 43.94 to fill fourth place. Bred by Oliver Ward, the mare is by Sligo Candy Boy out of the Guidam-sired Ardragh Duchess. Ardragh Lucky Lass was the highest placed eight-year-old and winner of the Hibernia section.

It was a good day for GBBS International as stable jockey and junior rider Tabitha Kyle accounted for fifth with BP Goodfellas. They came home with nothing to add in a time of 45.08. This eight-year-old Stakkato Gold gelding who won the gold medal at the WBFSH World Breeding Championships as a five-year-old was bred by Kevin Babington and Cheryl Broderick out of the OBOS Quality-sired Goodwins Loyalty.

Max Foley put in a gallant attempt with Marion Hughes’ HHS Savanna (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet x Don Juan De La Bouverie) in a bid to take the title, but four faults in a time of 38.58 proved only good enough for sixth place.

1.30m

Winner of the Aloga Equestian 1.30m was young rider Kristina Sumina when she delivered a double clear in 29.52 aboard the Wrenwood Stables-owned Bellevue Celestial. Less than half a second separated the next placing as Gemma Phelan and the Rory Costigan-owned seven-year-old GRC Casper clocked 29.99.

Slotting into third place was Michael Moran and the eight-year-old Marshmallow in a time of 33.30. Gemma Phelan took another share of the prize money when she delivered another clear with the seven-year-old GRC Mercedes in 34.08 for eventual fourth. A clear from Ellen Kenny and Mighty Bon Bon in 34.19 secured them fifth, while in sixth was junior rider Katie Nallon and CW Louboutin, clear in 35.25.

1.20m

A total of 56 lined out for the Plusvital-sponsored 1.20m (including the Young Rider Development Series and the Hibernia Young Horse six-year-old final). Leading the victory lap was Alyssa O’Neill and the seven-year-old DS Candescent when they were double clear in 33.19. Junior rider Emily Moloney and Cruicerath Flexianna took the runner-up spot when clear in 33.75, ahead of Alice Moloney and the seven-year-old MHS Jolene, clear in 35.56.

The highest placed six-year-old in the final round was the Claire Penny-owned KPCM Contessina ridden by Daryl Walker, clear in a time of 36.07. The Cornet Obolensky mare was bred by Glenmore Stud out of the Emerald Vant Ruytershof mare Ellie May LVS Z. Fifth place belonged to Ellen Kenny and Mighty Bon Bon, clear in 36.32, while in sixth was Gemma Phelan and Glidawn Gigi, clear in 36.34.

1.10m

The Agria 1.10m (including the Young Rider Development Series and the Hibernia five-year-old young horse final) saw 45 go to post and it was young rider Fiona Twohig and the seven-year-old TWS Quality that claimed victory when clear in 24.61. Junior riders dominated this class, claiming the top five placings.

Mark Neilan and New Haven Star took second with a clear in 30.38, ahead of Caoimhe O’Meara and Susie Quatro (31.63). Accounting for fourth place was Lucy Gaffney and World Of Orestus (32.32), while in fifth was Kayleigh O’Brien and Fairsing Freddie (33.24). Accounting for sixth place was amateur rider Michael Murphy (AA) and Voodoo Quality (33.75).

The leading five-year-old in this round was Cordula 58 partnered by Jennifer Kuehnle who finished in seventh place (34.64). This mare is owned by Hofgut Im Spess GMHB and Co. KG and was bred by Feddersen Fedder. She is by Corfu De La Vie out of the Claudio mare Vee.