COMPETITION in the Plusvital and Holmestead Pony Spring Tour moved up a gear with riders travelling to Portmore on St Patrick’s Day to contest the penultimate round in this exciting series.

Placed second in Maryville, Westmeath’s Lauren Murphy and Taggarts Express emerged as the winners in the 128cms section. One of 40 combinations to start, Murphy and Taggarts Express were the fastest of eight double clears in a time of 32.38 seconds. This was a decisive win for Murphy, as this combination has accumulated 22 points, which temporarily puts them in the lead going into the final at Ennis.

Coen Williams, riding Parc Giggles, was fractions behind, clear in 33.35 for second. This was also a important result for Williams as he added eight points to his tally of 10. Robyn Lee is also moving up the leaderboard, finishing third with Black Jack, clear in 34.99.

A clear in 35.11 proved good enough for eventual fourth for Jamie Clarke and Hilin Diamond. Robyn Lee picked up another placing when she partnered Little Lord of the Hills to a clear in 35.19, for fifth. This will keep that combination at the top of the leaderboard, having picked up points in for their second-place finish at Maryville. Accounting for sixth place, Paddy Reape and Heartbreaker went clear in 36.30.

138cms

Co Down’s Alex Finney is certainly proving to be a dominant force in the 138cms section, impressing again with her third win of the series. Finney’s clear in a time of 32.44 with Dolly Du Carel saw her clinch victory. In the opening round at Ard Chuain, Finney took the win aboard Western Oreo and third with her RDS Champion Dolly Du Carel. At Maryville, she struck again when she led the victory lap with her Dolly Du Carel.

The battle for this title is neck and neck, as Niamh McEvoy, who finished second the week before with Glenford Clausa, repeated this performance at Portmore. The combination galloped home with nothing to add in a time of 32.74. McEvoy also took third with Riot Del Pequill, clear in 33.79. This was the third good result for this combination, having also finished second in Ard Chuain and fourth in Maryville.

Alice Power’s more cautious approach with Bear Me In Mind paid off when they crossed the line with nothing to add in 35.46, for eventual fourth. Rhys Williams and Ballywire Mirah’s clear in 37.79 ensured them fifth place. Sixth were Aine Shortall and Ruby Brown, who delivered a clear in 53.36.

148cms

There was another good turnout for the 148cms section, with 47 riders going to post. From those, seven delivered double clears. Leading the victory lap was J Naughton riding Star Appraisal, clear in 39.27. Orla Duffy maintained her good record when she took the runner-up spot for the second week in a row aboard Atlanta, clear in 41.78. Duffy started off strong in this league, claiming the win in the opening round with Tirconaill Bluebell and third with Atlanta. She added to her points in Maryville, when finishing second with Atlanta.

Derry rider Ellie Rose-Cassidy and Claggan Gypsy Delight kept all the poles in place in a time of 42.33 for third. Jack McKeon and Ardara Lady, were almost three seconds behind in a time of 45.43 for eventual fourth. In fifth place, clear in 48.98 were Sarah O’Donnell and Glor Tire Cruise, ahead of Ellen Thompson and Trendy Blue, who were clear in 49.29.

In the 148cms Horse Sport Ireland Viewing Trial, 14 combinations went to post and, of those, five maintained clean sheets. John McEntee and Spartacus Reape won when going clear in 41.67. In second place was Robyn Moran riding Moores Pride, clear in 43.77, ahead of Francis Derwin and Rincoola Babog. Derwin also took fourth place with Cul Ban Mistress, clear in 46.82.

Niamh McEvoy was also in the ribbons in this section, when taking fifth with Fireman, clear in 46.82. Max Foley and Pumkins Pondi were fastest of the four faulters in 45.09, for sixth.

Children on Horses

In the Children on Horses division, five combinations delivered double clears to share the win. Those maintaining clean sheets were Vikki Fox (Bonny Sir Edward), Emma O’Connor (Coolrua), John Martin Kirrane (Knockmullen Chap), Orlaith Ryan (Lates Sparkey) and Lewis Trenier and Royana De Clairias.

All double clears in the Children on Horses section prior to the final are worth three points. In the qualifying rounds in this division, time was not a deciding factor. In the final in Ennis however, the class will be run against the clock as a jump-off competition.