THE Mervue Equine Leinster Tour got underway last Friday at Barnadown and as in previous years, attracted big entries.

Speaking ahead of what promises to be a competitive league, William Twomey, commercial director at Mervue Equine Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Leinster Summer Tour again this year. Last year’s tour saw record numbers of entrants and we are delighted to support the committed riders and upcoming talent within the show jumping sector. We wish all the participants and their teams the very best of luck in the upcoming tour.”

Up first, were those competitors in the Overlander Vehicles-sponsored 1.35m, with 43 combinations going to post. The win went to Sligo rider Kevin Gallagher and Boleybawn Actor, clear in 33.32. Bred by Ronan Rothwell and now owned by Gretchen Johnson, the eight-year-old gelding is by ARS Vivendi out of Air Jordan Z-sired dam, Arina.

He was previously campaigned by Darragh Ryan with much success in the aged classes and up to 1.30m. In 2017, he won a class in Dublin as a five-year-old and, under the command of Ethen Ahern, also won the four-year-old class at the RDS.

This gelding has plenty of experience under his girth as he was part of the team at Lanaken in 2016 and 2017. Last year under the command of Greg Broderick, he clocked up a series of good results in Knokke, and in Vejer de la Frontera with Ryan.

Eddie Moloney was 0.6 of a second behind with the nine-year-old mare Cruicerath Flexianna in 33.38 for second. This is the second good result for this combination of late, having finished in second place in the final of The Showjumpers Spring Tour.

Winner of the 1.20m Mervue Equine Leinster Tour in 2017, Stephen Murphy put his points on the board in this division when he took third with Chantelle, clear in 34.06. Sven Hadley has already made an impression in the Connaught league with a series of placings in the first two rounds, but he is also featuring in this league as he took fourth with Sumas Taloubet, clear in 34.43.

Mikey Pender’s clear with HHS Matilda in 34.57 saw him slot into fifth and he took the leading young rider prize. Kevin Gallagher was back in the ribbons as he also took sixth place with Lisa Cawley’s Flexibility, clear in 37.88. The top pro-am in this round was David Costello.

WIN FOR CAREY

Leading the victory lap in the 1.20m was Adam Carey riding Bob O’Keeffe’s Shanagore Cushy, clear in 28.38 seconds. It was a good outing for Charles O’Reilly Hyland as he filled the next three slots, when coming home with all three mounts within the 33-second marker.

He delivered his best result with Balumba Z, clear in 31.73 and then posted another clear with Enigma in 32.27 and finally went clear with Dinaro in 32.84.

Taylor Vard opted for a more cautious approach with Ogue Ball and a clear in 33.32 saw him take fifth. John Floody also kept the poles in place with Donevan Erkindale, albeit in a slower time of 34.01 for sixth. The leading pro-am in this section was Shaunagh Thomson and Garrison OBOS, who carried four faults in 60 seconds.

Victory in the 1.10m went to Kirsti Connole who partnered Zazu Van Terhofstede State to a clear in 29.64. National Young Rider Champion Jack Ryan tried hard to catch her on Sandballin, but was fractions behind in 29.89 for second place. Amateur rider Marie Hartley with Scarlhill Vendi kept everything in place in a time of 30.17 for third. Last year’s league champion’s Andrew Byrne and Hunters Lodge Puissance put their points on the board when they filled fourth place, clear in 30.96.

Lorraine MacGuinness and Horseware Kinmar Night was close on Byrne’s heels, taking fifth in 31.16. Completing the top six line-up was Laura Flynn and Joes Charm, clear in 33.26