LIAM O’Meara got his 2016 campaign off to a good start as the reigning HSI Connolly’s Redmills Spring Tour champion claimed victory in the opening round at Jag Equestrian (formerly Kildare International) last Sunday aboard Mr Coolcaum.

The Kildare venue has certainly proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Tipperary rider having previously won the HSI Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour on two other occasions. Not content with the winner’s share of the €2,500, O’Meara also piloted Helen Sheridan’s gelding, Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh into the runner up spot.

Mr Coolcaum, a 12 year-old gelding by Coolcaum Hill and out of Ranch Lady, has been a consistent charge for O’ Meara, clocking a series of impressive results at Grand Prix and Premier Series level, which includes a third place finish at South County Premier Series last August. O’ Meara’s second mount, Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh (ISH) has proved very consistent in the young horse classes and at regional Grand Prix level. Among their results was a win in the Spring Tour in Maryville, third in Broadmeadows and second in Portmore. The combination also won the RDS qualifier at Barnadown last year.

Delighted with the win, O’Meara said: “It is a good start to the season with both horses performing very well. Mr Coolcaum has plenty of experience at this level and I knew that I could take the chance to the last oxer. John had set a fast time and I had very little choice but to go for it. Curraghgraigue Jack TakFligh is also very careful and I knew that he was up for the challenge, so I didn’t hesitate with him either. Gaffney has put on a great show and the place looked great. The new surface worked really well too and overall it was a very good day.”

When asked about chasing the title for the second year, O’Meara added: “It’s very early to be even thinking about it. The plan now is to continue to do some more rounds of the tour, but ultimately the aim will be the National Grand Prix league and the Premier Series.”

JUMP OFF

On duty, course designer Tom Holden designed a fitting course for the first round, which saw nine of the 44 starters proceed to the jump-off. Although the course held no surprises, riders needed to keep a close eye on the clock.

Double-handed in the timed-round, John Floody set the bar high as first to go he lodged a clear with Francis Hughes’ Ballyknock Diamond in 34.89 seconds. Despite taking all the tight lines, Floody’s lead held only temporarily as Liam O’Meara followed with a series of tight turn backs and a great shot to the last oxer saw him lower the target to 34.08 with Mr Coolcaum.

Floody then proved out of luck with his second mount, Joanne Attley’s Shenick, when faulting at the last. A fast time of of 35.53 however saw him slot into sixth place.

Christopher Connell took a more cautious approach with BVS Echo Island and this paid dividends as a clear in 39.70 seconds saw him account for fourth place. This good performance saw him claim the leading young rider prize of the round. The Westmeath native has proved consistent at the young rider level and last year this combination impressed when winning three rounds of the young rider RDS 1.15m qualifiers to qualify for the Dublin Horse Show..

Fifth place belonged to Conan Wright, who kept all the poles in place in a time of 42.85 with Neal Fearon and Caroline Teltsch’s Leanorth Boom Boom. The 11-year-old Ard VDL Douglas gelding was previously campaigned by Fearon himself.

Gérard Clarke meant business as he took it on with with Kellswater Crimson, but a tight turn back to the oxer cost him dearly as it fell to the floor. The combinations time of 41.22 saw then finish in seventh place.

Vincent Byrne aired on the side of caution with Sambuca Paris Diamond, but four faults at the first part of the double in 43.94 meant he finished in eighth place. A new mount for Byrne, the 10-year-old gelding has only been under the Kilkenny rider’s command for the last month. By Sambucco and out of Silver Diamond Beauty, he was produced by Sharon Locke from 80cms. Michael G Duffy dropped out of contention as Senator W took a dislike to the second part of the double and finished up by slotting into ninth place.

Last to go, O’Meara returned with the eight-year-old Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh and with the class hand lodged another clear in 34.81 for second place.

The leading Pro Am rider in this round was Deirdre Doyle on BLM Authentic Diamond. Action in the HSI Connolly’s Spring Tour continues at Cavan Equestrian this Sunday.