Emer Bermingham

KILKENNY’s Vincent Byrne moved up the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour leaderboard as he rode to victory aboard Angela Taggart’s Caugherty last Sunday at Ballinamona.

This was the second consecutive win for Byrne, having pipped Liam O’Meara to the win at Wexford EC the week before.

Delighted with the result, Byrne said: “It was great to have another win with the mare in such a short space of time.

“She has really started this season on top form. It was a competitive class as Chris Connell had set a very fast time and, to be honest, I thought that it would be hard to catch him. With Liam O’Meara last to go, I knew I would have to put in a fast round.

“Really there was no manoeuvre that you could negotiate to make up the time in the course, you just had to be quicker across the ground. I just kept it very tight and all the fences came up right.

“I started off strong from fence one to two and then took six strides from the double to the oxer.

“A few other riders did this in five strides, but I just got a better turn back to it on six.”

He added: “I will be heading off to Lanaken in few weeks and it was good send-off. I will be back for the round at Warrington and then for the final at Coilog.”

By Limmerick and out of Tiffcrum Girl, the 14-year-old Caugherty will be travelling to Lanaken with Byrne at the end of the month.

Course designer Noel Phelan built a fair course for the 40 starters, which saw 19 of these proceed to the timed round.

Going early in the class, young rider Christopher Connell set the time to beat with BVS Echo Diamond as he crossed the line in 29.45 to put it up to the rest.

Double-handed in the jump-off, Francis Connors answered all the questions posed with both mounts but he delivered his best result with Uskerty Diamond Lady when he crossed the line with nothing to add in 30.17 for eventual fourth.

A clear with Hyperion in 31.13 also ensured the Waterford rider a sixth place finish.

Young rider Jack Ryan played opted to play it safe with Cavalier Teaca and it paid dividends as a clear in 30.60 saw him slot into fifth place.

Similarly, Anna Carway and Winner didn’t take any unnecessary risks and a clear round in 31.33 saw her finish in seventh place.

Winner of the overall young rider title last year, Carway will no doubt be looking to challenge in the remaining rounds.

NO STRANGER

Michael Pender impressed when he piloted HHS Hercules to a clear in 33.29 for eighth place. Pender is no stranger to success in the pony arena with a string of results on the national and international circuit.

Based in Kildare, he was instrumental in the Irish pony team success at the Europeans last year and was named the leading international pony rider of the year at this year SJI’s annual awards. Pender is now out of ponies and hoping to make his career in horses.

Second last to go, all eyes were on Vincent Byrne as he crossed the line with nothing to add with Caugherty in 28.13 seconds to take the lead from Connell.

It was a nail-biting finish as last to go with Mr Coolcaum, Liam O’Meara put in a gallant attempt and jumped clear in 28.73.

However this was only good enough for second place and O’Meara demoted Connell into third place.