THERE was a double of wins last weekend for Limerick student Robyn Moran as she landed victory in the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour on bank holiday Monday at JAG Equestrian in Kildare, just two days after winning in Tubberbride.

This time riding Cushlas Fryday, Moran once again saw off the challenge from Emma McEntee, who was hot on her heels as the tour comes to conclusion in just two weeks’ time. McEntee holds the lead in the competition with MHS New York, with just two points to spare over Moran and Coolminga Inspector Royal (see table left).

“It has been a super weekend with all horses jumping fantastic,” Moran commented afterwards. “I would like to thank all my owners who support me and to my dad Brian who is there with me all the time in this journey. I am looking forward to the final, but it is very much still to play for and we will have to see how the next two weekends go.”

Bred by John Peter Finlay and owned by Vera Griffin, Cushlas Fryday is a seven-year-old gelding by Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve out of the Apache D’Adriers-sired Une Ardente De Vie (SF). The Moran’s purchased him at Goresbridge Sales from Jason Higgins.

The gelding demonstrated talent from an early age with Robyn’s father, Brian, qualifying him as a four-year-old for the Dublin Horse Show. Under the command of Robyn, he competed in the Discovery class in Millstreet as a five-year-old. He was then sold him to his current owners but he remains in the Moran’s yard.

Competitive jump-off

Some 33 combinations took on the Gueorgui Gueorguiev-designed course and from those, 12 booked their place in the jump-off. It was always going to be a very competitive second round with Moran and Emma McEntee booking two places each, as did Adam Carey and Edward Doyle.

There was time to move up throughout the course and for those with a win in mind, they need to take a tight turn back from the CWD vertical to the butterfly vertical. The inside line to the double, matched with a good pace to the last also proved necessary to be up on target.

Double-handed in the jump-off, Adam Carey proved out of luck when he faulted at the last oxer with Quinn Z in 39.98, which would later prove good enough for sixth place. He later returned with Geron RS, but failed to feature in the line-up.

Moran had her first look at the course with Coolminga Inspector Royal, but four faults at the first part of the double in 40.37 meant they finished just outside the top six. Following their runner-up placing on Saturday, Emma McEntee and Mirdads Zamzaaam were clearly in form, as they delivered a clear in 44.24 seconds, which saw her provisionally take the lead.

No stranger to success at JAG Equestrian, the 2020 National Grand Prix champion Derek McConnell wasted no time with Dothraki Warlord, but the longer route back to the double saw him stop the clock in 44.26 for eventual fourth.

Owned by Tom and Sorcha Hennessy, this nine-year-year-old gelding, who was bred by Patrick J. Kearns from Co Laois, is by Mermus R out of the Diamant De Semilly mare Tiamo Diamant. The gelding was instrumental in McConnell winning the National Grand Prix title last year. McConnell has produced Dothraki Warlord from a three-year-old and has had success at all levels.

Stephen Murphy slotted into fifth place with Chantelle in a time of 46 seconds. Owned by Brian Murphy and bred by Gerry Traynor, Chantelle is a 12-year-old mare by Lux Z out of the Errigal Flight-sired Texaco’s Delphie.

Already leading the way with Mirdads Zamzaaam, McEntee returned to deliver another foot-perfect performance with MHS New York, bettering her earlier target with a clear in 43.78 seconds. Owned by Miguel Bravo and bred by Thomas Brennan, MHS New York is an eight-year-old gelding by Quidam Junior out of Cavalier Kells (Cavalier Royale). This combination has demonstrated good form in this tour, taking the win early in Cavan and third in Cavan in the round in March and now lead the league by two points.

Local rider Edward Doyle, despite securing a place in the jump-off with Renkum A’Toast and Flexibility, finished outside the line-up.

Last to go, Moran returned with Cushlas Fryday and a very tight line from one to two, matched with a daring gallop to the last, saw her stop the clock in 43.03 to claim her second victory of the weekend. McEntee slotted into second (MHS New York) and third (Mirdads Zamzaaam).

Winner of the 1.30m was Sven Hadley whodelivered a clear with the Adrian Hewson-owned Calanthe Slot in 33.63. This nine-year-old gelding is by Cabochon. Robyn Moran picked up another prize when she took the runner-up spot with Cushlas Fryday, in a time of 35.27.

Nicola FitzGibbon was third with the Ciara Horan-owned Grenada K in 36.80. Fourth place belonged to Ellen Kenny and Champion U, clear in 38.27, ahead of Edward Doyle and Billy Houston, clear in 38.43. Completing the top six was David Maher with Patricia Grimmes’ Siobhra, clear in 38.50