CALIFORNIAN Savannah Barry and her own nine-year-old Flambeau won the second round of The Showjumpers Club Spring Tour in Cavan last Sunday.

This is 24-year-old Barry’s first time competing on Irish soil, and she made it one to remember, steering her Dutch-bred gelding to the fastest clear in the nine-strong jump-off to secure the victory.

Barry, who is based in Ballyclare, Co Antrim, is the wife of Kristopher Marshall, son of former Irish team member Harry. The Marshall family have recently returned home to Ireland having been based in Holland for several years.

Speaking to The Irish Field after her victory Barry was delighted to win on her first show in Ireland. “This was my first ever time competing indoors, my horse is quite green at this level so we were just really going to Cavan to gain some experience, so to win the class was great.

“I’m very proud of my horse, I didn’t go in with high expectations, so the fact that we won was great. I really enjoyed my first trip to Cavan, it was a really good experience and I had fun.”

Speaking about her mount, a nine-year-old chesnut gelding by Carambole, she said: “I bought Flambeau as a five-year-old in Holland and when he was six, we competed at the young horse championships in Lanaken, Belgium, and that is where I met Kris.

“We began dating after that ended up getting married. We now have a daughter, Macie, who will be one year old in March.

“My other Grand Prix horse is First Verdi. He is also nine years old. He was a breeding stallion in Stal Hendrix. I bought him as a six-year-old and brought him back to the States where we had him castrated. I brought him to Florida in 2016 for the Winter Equestrian Festival and then I moved to Europe full time.

“At the moment he is being ridden by Kris’ father Harry. They have really clicked which is great. They had one fence down in the Grand Prix but we were really happy with how he went,” Barry said.

The Californian plans to compete in Ireland for the coming months. “The plan now is to compete at a few of the Spring Tour shows and then do some Premier league classes. I’m not too sure after that we may travel in Europe a bit in the summer.

“I had heard so many great things about Ireland from Kris and his Dad so it’s great to be based here in Ballyclare now.” By the Holsteiner stallion Carambole, Flambeau is Dutch-bred and last summer was campaigned successfully by Harry at two and three-star level in Vilamoura, Lier, Maubeuge and Bonheiden. First Verdi is by Verdi TN out of Votti Lottie (Fuego du Prelet).

SETTING THE STANDARD

A total of 63 starters lined out for the 1.35m class, with nine keeping a clean sheet to progress to the timed decider.

Barry was first to go and set the standard from the off. Economical turns and a forward pace throughout saw her break the beam in a time of 36.54 seconds to leave the rest chasing.

Next in, Shannon MacKenzie and her own Dyolita jumped the first four fences clear but then an error saw her jump the wrong fence and suffer elimination, which left her in ninth place in the final line-up.

Young rider Daniel McAlinden and Alan Briscoe’s 14-year-old Irish-bred gelding KMS Earl (Ramon x Corland) were third to go. A foot-perfect round in a time of 37.73 saw the pair claim the runner-up spot and McAlinden was also named Botanica International leading young rider.

Jack Ryan guided his mother Marguerite’s Moneybroom Dancer, a nine-year-old gelding by Je T’Aime Flamenco, to the third clear round in a time of 38.59 and that was eventually good enough for fourth place.

Edward Doyle was next to go with Gina Prescott’s Billy Guilder. They had the third fence down for four faults in 42.25 which left them in eighth place. Frank Curran and Oliver Twister had the second part of the double down in a time of 38.76 to finish sixth.

GMH Sporthorses’ 13-year-old gelding Berlios van de Kapel and Grace McHugh also failed to produce a clear round, faulting at the first part of the double to finish on four faults in 42.11 and in seventh place.

John Floody and Anne Clancy’s AHG Whiterock Luis, a 10-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Luidam, were the penultimate to take on the jump-off track. They left all the fences, up but in cautious time of 51.47 seconds for eventual fifth place.

Last to go was Luke Garrigan riding his own 11-year-old Irish-bred mare MHS La Scala (Verdi x Cavalier Royale). They too left all the fences intact and stopped the clock at 38.48, which was good enough to slot into third place.

The next, and third, round of The Showjumpers Club Spring Tour League takes place in Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre tomorrow, Sunday, March 3rd.

SATURDAY’s 1.30m class went to Natasha Carolan aboard NKC Sporthorses’ Halina H, ahead of James Hogg riding his own Intuitive, and event rider Declan Cullen and his own Seavaghan Ash in third place. Taylor Vard was fourth with Suir Safari, and Hogg, aboard his second mount, Marble Arch Equine Ltd’s Ping Ball, finished fifth.

The 1.35m competition was won by Casey Phair and her own Metropole mare Metralis. The pair, who had earlier won the 1.20m class, recorded a double clear round in 45.71 to secure the victory.

The runner-up spot went to John Floody and AHG Whiterock Luis in 46.29. Jack Ryan took third aboard Cavalier Tecca in 49.12, while fourth went to Allison Mercer’s Sumas Duiske ridden by Ellie Humphries in 51.02.

Sean Monaghan and Linda Courtney’s LCC Empty Pockets slotted into fifth while Jack Ryan and his second mount BBS McGregor were sixth.

In the 1.40m class John Floody came out on top when he and Brian Kieran’s HTS Blackrock recorded the only double clear round of the competition to secure the win.

In Sunday’s 1.20m, David O’Connor, son of sport horse agent Barry, won his first class aboard Gerona, ahead of Jamie Landers in second with Isora van de Wolfsgracht and Daniel McAlinden in third with Russia.

Sven Hadley took the top two places in Sunday’s 1.30m class. Victory came aboard Sumas Taloubet, while he guided Quanbell into second. Ellen Murphy slotted into third with Cidam K.