SVEN HADLEY and Sumas Taloubet made it two in a row when claiming their second Spring Grand Prix win last Sunday in Cavan.

Following on from a decisive win at JAG Equestrian in Kildare one week earlier, the pair proved best of a competitive field of 38 to head proceedings.

“I was confident in my horse’s (Sumas Taloubet) ability. He has plenty of experience and is naturally careful, so I was quite happy to really go for it to the final fence.

“If I hadn’t, I don’t think I would have won, it was a competitive class with 14 in the jump-off.

“My plan now is to do the next few Spring Tour Grand Prix. I didn’t expect to be in this position (with two wins) but, now that we are here, I will focus on trying to keep us competitive in the league.

“Looking forward I’m going to stay at home for now and see how things unfold. If I chase the Spring Tour, I’ll give the horses a short break before the National and Premier Grand Prix but I’ll wait and see how they are going before making final decisions.

“I’m delighted with the win and with how the horse is going and am looking forward to continued success,” said Hadley following the win.

A large group of 14 made it through to the jump-off over resident course designer Stuart Clarke’s track.

Opportunities to make up time came at various stages on the track, including a tight left-hand turn after fence three heading to the double at four, as well as an inviting long gallop to the final fence an oxer.

Most of the riders angled their mounts to jump the left-hand side of fence three at a right-angle to ensure a smooth change of rein and an ongoing motion to arrive at the double. They had to be close enough to clear the first part, a vertical, but with enough impulsion to stretch over the second part, a wide oxer.

DARING

Following on from the double, Clarke dared riders with a tight-as-you-dare turn into a vertical.

This was followed by another rein change and vertical, before a 10-stride gallop to the final oxer; the risk here being that the horse would flatten after the lengthening of stride and hit the final fence.

Hadley had the advantage of having three horses through to the timed decider. He was pathfinder with Quanbell (Quentin – H2). A refusal at the first part of the double saw them finish in a time of 46.89 with four to add.

Talented pony rider Jennifer Kuehnle was second in, riding Deirdre Bourns’ 12-year-old Harlequin Du Carel-sired Electric Feel. They faulted at the third fence to finish on four faults but in a much faster time of 40.31.

Damien Griffin and the experienced Tabby provided the first clear round, stopping the clock at 39.22 to go into the lead.

GRIPPING

This was short-lived, however, as Tholm Keane and Caroline Teltsch’s Dutch-bred stallion Delano W matched Griffin’s fault-free round but in a better time of 38.79.

Shannon MacKenzie, who was also busy with three through to the timed decider, was next riding Ben’s Lady Lux (Lux Z – Cavalier Royale). They too managed to leave all the fences up and snatch the lead from Keane when they broke the finish beam in a time of 38.24 seconds.

The next two horses into the ring, Ballyknock Diamond (John Floody) and Zack (Vickie Anderson), managed to remove themselves from the running with four faults apiece.

Hadley fell foul of the double once more when he and his second mount Why Not Fado (Cardenio – Darco) had both parts down for eight faults in 46.27.

To accommodate those with multiple rides, Damien Griffin and Armani BS then moved up the order to go ninth. Griffin once again left all the fences intact, stopping the clock just slightly off the mark in 41.57 for eventual fifth place.

Things do not go according to plan for rider Shannon MacKenzie and her second mount Castlelara Lady Lux. They suffered a lack of impulsion into the double and, as a result, had number five down for four faults to add.

The double then claimed another victim when Tholm Keane and Future Storm faulted at the first part to finish on four.

Bronson De Reve and John Floody saw their chances fade early on when having the second fence down to force them out of the running.

Derek McConnell and his own seven-year-old gelding Srilanka Gotham Lad were the penultimate pair in and they produced a steady clear round in a time of 44.20 to see them fiish in sixth place.

Hadley was last to go aboard Sumas Taloubet. With it all to play for, the Galway rider was determined from the off.

He managed to keep his turns precise so that, by the time he turned to the final line, he could allow his mount to gallop freely to the final fence. They stopped the clock at 37.05 to secure the win and the lion’s share of the prize money.

Jennifer Kuehnle was awarded the Leading Young Rider prize while Damien Griffin’s mount Tabby was named Best Turned Out.

The Pro-Am winner was Vickie Anderson and Zack who received a Botanica Hamper.

The next and third round of the Spring League takes place tomorrow (February 26th) in Ravensdale Lodge, Dundalk.