IN another double bill of the TRM Show Jumpers Club Spring Tour, Liam O’Meara lodged his first win of the 2026 series at Maryville on Sunday. The Tipperary rider partnered his own Cevann to a clear round in 41.51 seconds to take home the €3,000 in the host-sponsored class. This is the second good result for this pairing in the tour, having claimed third place in the round at Banner.

Owned by O’Meara, the 12-year-old gelding is by Cevin Z and out of the Kannan-sired dam, Bellini. Cevann has a consistent record and amongst his good placings with O’Meara was third in the national Grand Prix in Hollypark last year, along with placings in the Munster Grand Prix.

Speaking after the win, O’Meara said: “I am delighted with the win, especially since I think it was the one with the biggest numbers. It was a competitive class, and I knew that it wouldn’t be an easy win with a lot of good combinations on the start list.

“I also had Big Dan Du Rouet in the Grand Prix, but unfortunately a tack malfunction ruled us out of contention in the first round. That’s the highs and lows of the sport.

“Cevann is a great horse; this was his third double clear in a row in the tour, so he was knocking on the door. He can be a bit quirky and he is 18hh, but once you know him, he’s a very loyal servant. I think in the jump-off, I made up the time by leaving out a stride from two to three.”

There was a good turn out in the Cork venue, with 52 combinations battling it out over the Gueorgui Gueorguiev-designed course. Of those, eight booked their place against the clock.

Emerging talent

With seven horses aged eight or under and three young riders in the top 10, the line-up perfectly reflected the tour’s objective: advancing emerging talent while preparing horses for the season ahead and their progression to national Grand Prix level.

Jack Geaney and CS Lux Chacco followed closely behind, delivering a clear in 42 seconds to take the runner-up place and the Hibernian qualifier seven and eight-year-old old bonus on offer. Owned by Geaney and bred by Pauidie Fuller, the eight-year-old mare is by Chacoon Blue and is out of the Lux Z-sired dam, Sarah’s Glory. This mare was also campaigned by Ciara Geaney, who qualified for the 1.10/1.15m young riders in Dublin Horse Show and finished third in the Championship.

Young rider Daisy McNamara slotted into third place, when she came home with nothing to add aboard Caspetito Z, in 42.71. Owned by Martha McNamara and bred by Bart Vanlommel, the Zangersheide gelding is by Cassio Vh Sonnishof and out of the Hors La Loi II-sired dam, Zaire.

Max Foley was back in the line-up after his win in Warrington, this time riding HHS Madonna he took fourth, with a clear in 44.93. This eight-year-old gelding is by Luidam and is out of the Ready Boy Des Forets-sired dam Banou Derick.

Last of the double clears was delivered by Maura Counihan jnr aboard her own Ardnore Killerisk Grace in 49.14 for fifth place. This mare was bred by Kevin Jacob and is by Ard VDL Douglas and out of the Chello III VDL-sired dam, Farrah.

Eoghan Fahy and Origi Van De Bandam finished as the fastest four-faulter in 40.38 for sixth place. Owned by Chedington Equestrian and bred by Nele Bonte, the Belgian Warmblood is 12 years old by Cooper Vd Heffinick and is out of the Indorado-sired dam, Joko Ono Van De Bandam. This combination had previously finished fifth in the round in Wexford after winning the round the week before in Cavan.

Kian Dore and WHS Lincoln had two on the ground in 58.46 for seventh, ahead of Gemma Phelan and Lance Corporal, who unfortunately suffered a fall.