COUNTY Tyrone’s Peter Smyth won the final leg of the 2016 Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour at the Irish Breeders Classic in Barnadown last Friday, where Waterford’s Francis Connors and Capitol Cruis were crowned overall league champions.

Connors and Ian Smyth’s Capitol Cruis have been the standout performers in the series, scoring wins at Tattersalls and Iverk, along with runner-up finishes at Louth, Wexford and Maryville.

Connors’ dominance was confirmed with a massive 30-point winning margin with the nine-year-old daughter of Ard VDL Douglas, who is out of a Cruising dam and was bred by Diana Warrington from Co Kildare. John Floody finished as series runner-up with Ballyknock Diamond.

The Karlswood Stables Young Rider bursary was won by Jennier Keuhnle, who will now spend a week training with 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Cian O’Connor at his European base, with accommodation, travel and food all included.

The Pro-Am section of the Mervue Equine LST, which offers a prize of training with Ian Fearon, was won by Deirdre Doyle. The final round at the Breeders Classic produced another competitive contest, with Peter Smyth riding HHS 007 to the winning double clear round in 40.02 seconds.

Jennifer Keuhnle consolidated her position at the top of the young rider standings with a runner-up finish aboard Electric Feel, while Francis Connors finished third with Theoreme Du Desir.

Declan Egan slotted into fourth place aboard Ringwood Zebo, just ahead of Ger O’Neill and Dondoctro Ryal K in fifth, while Gemma Phelan and Loughnavatta Indigo came home in sixth.

As the Mervue Equine LST drew to a close, William Twomey, commercial director with Mervue Equine said: “We would like to congratulate the 2016 Mervue LST league winner Frances Connors and Ian Smyth’s extremely consistent mare Capitol Cruis.

“Mervue are delighted to be working with the Leinster region of Showjumping Ireland on sponsoring this league and we feel it gives an opportunity for riders to produce their younger horses and help to bring them to the next level.”

Twomey continued: “We are very supportive of the Pro-Am and Young Rider sections of the league as it encourages these riders to compete and gain points on the leaderboard also.

“Well done to all the owners and riders and we look forward to being involved again next year.”