THE TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour league came to an exciting conclusion last Friday, with young rider Emma McEntee and MHS New York claiming the overall title, while John Floody and Donevan Erkindale took the final round.

It had been neck and neck between McEntee and fellow young rider Robyn Moran throughout the league. McEntee had given herself a cushion of a nine-point lead, but it was still all to play at the final with points and a half on offer. In the end, McEntee finished best of the duo; she posted the fastest time of the jump-off (37.09), but four faults at 5b, the TRM vertical, would see her take ninth place.

Along with the winning the league, McEntee will become a new brand ambassador for TRM Equestrian as the leading young rider of the series. Moran and Coolminga Inspector took the overall runner-up prize, while Edward Doyle and Flexability finished third overall.

Owned by Miguel Bravo and bred by Thomas Brennan, MHS New York is an eight-year-old gelding by Quidam Junior out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Cavalier Kells. The combination consistently demonstrated good form in the tour, taking an early win in Cavan and placing in five other rounds.

“The pressure was off in the jump-off in regards winning the league, but I still would have liked to have been in the money,” said McEntee, who is studying Business Management in Belfast. “The times that we are in have allowed me to study and ride. I took over the ride of MHS New York eight months ago from my brother John and prior to him, Mikey Pender campaigned the horse. The plan will be to step up to the Premier Grand Prix series.”

Speaking about the brand ambassador prize, she added: “It’s great to become a brand ambassador for TRM. We already use their products and I can say that they really work.”

The leading TRI Working Producer of the series was Kildare rider Stephen Murphy. Murphy, who works in property management, picked up points with Chantelle in the rounds at Broadmeadows, Killossery and JAG Equestrian. Owned by Brian Murphy and bred by amateur show jumper Gerry Traynor, Chantelle is a 12-year-old mare by Lux Z out of the Errigal Flight-sired Texaco’s Delphie.

The breeder of Robyn Moran’s horse Coolminga Inspector Royal, James McMahon, was awarded the leading breeder prize. The 11-year-old gelding Coolminga Inspector Royal is by Tinaranas Inspector out of Coolminga Cavalier (Garrison Royal). The Co Clare breeder has four other offspring from this dam, the youngest being a three-year-old by Orestus.

As a young horse, Coolminga Inspector Royal was campaigned by Geraldine McMahon, competing in the four-year-olds at the Dublin Horse Show in 2014. Moran took over the horse three years later and clocked up a series of results, which included qualifying for the young riders in Dublin in 2017, where they picked up a third place.

Competitive final round

International course designer Tom Holden designed a fitting course for the final round, with 56 combinations taking up the gauntlet. Of the original starters, 18 booked their time in the jump-off and eight of those delivered double clears.

Second to go against the clock, Leah Stack played it safe with the Kellie Allen-owned Perigrosso (Perigueux x Gratina) and set the time to beat when clear in 48.18 seconds. Stack’s lead was short-lived as two combinations later, Edward Doyle Jnr reduced the target with the nine-year-old Renkum A Toast (Cheers Cassini x Egalisca De Ruire) to 46.93.

Just one horse later, the lead changed hands again as Adam Carey took off over six seconds, when he stopped the clock in 40.61 with the nine-year-old Quinn Z (Querly Elvis x Cherunique Z). Carey meant business from the start and opted to take the inside line to the early double. This, along with a tight turn back to the TRM vertical and on to the final oxer, saw him set a blistering new lead and he eventually finished in third place.

A carefully negotiated round from Aisling McGuinness aboard the 11-year-old Kilderrys Joint Venture (Russel x Sullane Sally) in 46.13 would later prove good enough for fifth place, ahead of Doyle and Renkum A Toast.

No stranger to this type of pressure, John Floody didn’t hang about with Donevan Erkindale and their time of 38.73 saw them take the final round of the series. Floody put his foot to the floor from the off and negotiated a very tight turn back to the double. This along with a tight light back to the planks and on to the TRM vertical was what he needed to take the class.

Owned by Kevin and the late Geralyn Thompson, Donevan Erkindale is a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Unaniem.

Proud owners

There were anxious moments for Floody as Kevin Gallagher put in a fast round with Painrich, but in the end, his time of 40.34 would see him take the runner-up spot. Owned by Gallagher, the 11-year-old mare is by Tornesch.

Jenny Rankin put in a gallant attempt with Carmela Z, and a clear in 44.95 meant that she finished behind Carey in fourth place. Owned by Vanessa Mannix, the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare is by Candillo Z out of Caretano Z.

Speaking after the win, Floody said: “I am delighted for Kevin and I know Geralyn will be looking down and would have been cheering us on. This horse is a very athletic animal with plenty of scope and he always tries to be careful. It was a very competitive jump-off and it was good to get this start ahead of the National Grand Prix season.”

Larry Masterson of TRM said: “Today’s competition was a testament to the strength and resilience of our industry and TRM is delighted to play their part in supporting the Spring Tour Grand Prix series, after two years of uncertainty and rescheduling we got a final today that was truly worth waiting for here in Coilog.

“Congratulations to John Floody for winning today and Emma McEntee on being crowned the overall series champion. Emma fought off stiff competition over 14 legs from more senior riders from National Champions to Olympians. The journey for TRM and Emma has only just begun, as leading young rider of the series, Emma will join the TRM roster of sponsored riders alongside the likes of world number one Steve Gurdat, Markus Ehning and McLain Ward.

“TRM would like to take also take this opportunity to thank their partners in this series, The Showjumpers Club, and to all the venues who worked hard in making this a very successful 2021 Spring Tour. TRM are proud to support Irish show jumping and give back the support we receive from Irish riders.”