AS the conclusion of the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour draws closer to a conclusion, it came as no surprise that the penultimate weekend of jumping saw those riders at the top end of the leaderboard out in force for last weekend’s double bill.

At Iverk last Saturday, old rivals Francis Connors and Tholm Keane went head to head at their local show, but in the end it was Francis Connors who took the win in the 1.35m division. Winner of the Leinster Summer Tour in 2016 at Iverk, Francis Connors once again partnered Capitol Cruis to victory.

Bred by Diana Warrington from Kildare and now owned by Ian Smyth, Capitol Cruis is a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Ard VDL Douglas out of the Cruising Mare Forest Mistral.

Warrington has bred several from this mare, using Highland King on five occasions, plus Ricardo Z, Cobra and Kingsmaster. Francis Connors took over the ride of Capitol Cruis from Peter Leonard in 2015 and since then, the combination have proved very consistent at this level.

GOOD RESULTS

Amongst their good results this year were fourth in the National Grand Prix in Ballinasloe, third in the 1.35m Munster Grand Prix in Ballinamona, second in the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour in Barnadown and second in the Munster Grand Prix in Ballylawn.

There was another turnout for the popular tour with 29 combinations going to post and from those 14 delivered clears first time out.

Second to go against the clock, local rider Vincent Byrne delivered the first double clear of the class with Michael Hayden’s and Paul O’Shea’s Primo Royal in 48.31, which would later prove good enough for sixth.

Next in, Patrick Hickey and the 11-year-old Holsteiner mare Quandurina also delivered a foot-perfect round in a time of 43.59 to take the lead and then eventual third, winning the leading young rider prize. By Quidam de Revel and out of the Calato-sired mare Handura, the mare has been under Hickey’s command for just over a year and has clocked up a series of results on the national circuit.

Vincent Byrne returned with Sambuca Paris Diamond and improved on his earlier performance when he lodged another clear in a faster time of 45.09 for fifth.

Fifth to go in the class, Francis Connors knew what was required to take the win and he duly delivered when he lodged the winning clear round in 42.59 seconds.

Double-handed in the jump-off, Patrick Hickey returned with Martini Van Overis Z, but despite a gallant attempt, he failed to lower the target and a clear in 43.71 saw him take fourth.

All eyes were last to go Tholm Keane as he took to the track with Future Storm, however despite a series of good turns, a clear in 43.01 proved only good enough to take the runner-up spot.

In the 1.20m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour division, it was amateur rider Enda Invanoff who led the victory lap.

Riding his own Quinsflight, he was fastest of the double clears in 28.75. A second behind was Laura Connors and Just Jump in 29.75. Waterford native Paddy O’Donnell accounted for third place when he partnered Aine Treacy’s Bonmahon Highlight into third, clear in 29.93.

Richie O’Hara was fractions behind with Killbunny Vassili in 30.34 for fourth, ahead of Tadhg Beecher and Bonmahon Blue Star in 30.92. Tom Doyle and BLM Authentic Diamond completed the top six line-up when clear in 31.30.