ALTHOUGH the overall titles in the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour were decided at the penultimate round, the last leg of the series at Warrington proved very competitive as riders battled it out for the final honours.

Sponsored by Warrington Top Flight, the final round saw 47 combinations go to post and Nicholas Butler, riding Vimminka, took the honours. Owned by Ladycastle Syndicate’s, Vimminka is a 15-year-old mare by Nabab De Reve out of Naminka. Under the command of Alexander Butler, she boasts an impressive career.

Last year her results included a win in the Autumn Grand Prix league at Cavan, fifth in the The Underwriting Exchange LTD Grand Prix, a win in the Premier Series at Omagh and second in the Grand Prix at Tattersalls.

New to Nicholas Butler for this season, he was full of praise for the mare saying; “She has a lot of experience at this level having won a lot with Alexander. It was a very fast jump-off and I got the upper hand in the turn to the verticle after the double. She is naturally fast in her turn-backs and the course suited her. I have just started to campaign the mare and I am hoping that I can hold on to her for another while.”

Local course designer Pat Drennan built a fitting course for the final which asked a few questions of combinations. In the first round, the oxer at three heading to the pocket and then back to a vertical demanded careful riding, as did the dog leg to the double of verticals at 10.

Despite the technical nature of the course, Drennan got it right with clear rounds for 20 combinations, four incurring a single time fault and 10 finishing on a four faults.

A total of 19 combinations proceeded to the timed round and first to go against the clock, local rider Ger O’Neill, was clearly up for the challenge. Riding Cavalino 26, he set the bar high when he delivered the first double clear in 40.16, which would later see him take eighth place.

Just two horses later, Shannon Mackenzie lowered that target when she crossed the line clear in 38.64 with Castle Tara Lady Lux. Keen to retake the lead, Ger O’Neill returned and improved on his earlier performance lowering the target with Eamonn Murphy’s nine-year-old stallion Dondoctro Ryal K to 37.65 seconds.

Gemma Phelan’s clear with Loughnavatta Indigo in 39.41 failed to alter the lead, but a strong performance would later see her occupy seventh place in the line-up.

Setting off in a determined pace, Ethen Ahearne knew what was required to take the lead. Riding Riverside Ace, he first made up time the turn back from fence 14 to 15, this matched with a tight turn to the double and a daring gallop to the last saw him take the lead when he clocked 36.17. Alexander Butler’s foot-perfect performance with Eldorado in a time of 38.09 would later see him feature in the line-up, slotting into fifth place, just ahead of Shannon Mackenzie (Castle Tara Lady Lux).

A home favourite, all eyes were Vincent Byrne as he took to the course with Mr Rockefeller. Byrne took a series off tight turns, but despite being cheered on by the crowd, he stopped the clock in 37.28, which would see him finish ahead of O’Neill and (Dondoctro Ryal K) who accounted for eventual fourth.

Using his late draw to the best of his advantage, Nicholas Butler meant business as he took to the course with the very experienced Vimminka. With a win in mind, he first took the tight line from fence 14 to 15, this matched with a tight turn to the double saw him on target and then seven strides to the verticle. A final gallop was all that he needed to clock the winning time of 35.51 seconds and in the process demote Aherne into the runner-up place.

Local rider Jack Ryan proved out of luck when he faulted at fence eight, but he did not go home empty-handed as he took the leading young rider prize of the round. A clear from Jamie Garland and Zedlepplin in 41.22 saw her take the leading pro-am prize of the round.

Second last to go aboard Sumas Taloubet, Sven Hadley was looking to secure the final win for good measure. Hadley looked to be on target until four faults at the last saw his hopes of a win dashed. Hadley didn’t go home too disappointed as he collected a cheque of €2,000 along with half a ton of feed from Connolly’s Red Mills as winner of the tour.

The Galway rider recorded the majority of his points with his own Sumas Taloubet, bred at Sumas Stud. A 12-year-old by Taloubet Vdl out of the Pride of Shaunlara (ID)-sired mare It’s An Ology, the gelding has been with Hadley since last summer and has been successful up to Grand Prix level.

The sire Taloubet VDL was on lease from the VDL Stud and went back to Holland as a four-year-old after Suma Stud ceased standing stallions. Suma Stud was one of the first studs in Ireland to lease stallions from VDL and brought in stallions such as Arkansas VDL, Douglas VDl, Ricochet VDL and Pessoa VDL. The gelding’s full brother Sumas Talent was campaigned by Gary Quinn up to regional Grand Prix level.

Following a strong performance throughout the tour, Shannon Mackenzie was second and John Floody third. Mikey Pender won the overall young rider prize, and Vickie Anderson took the leading Botanica pro-am title.

Earlier in the day, Paddy O’Donnell and Hey There Deilah took the honours in the 1.20m when clear in 47.97. Mikey Pender and HHS Falsterbo were second, clear in 49.42, ahead of Deirdre Doyle and Done Cruising in 53.16.