Katy Saunders
AS the CWD Children On Horses and Pony Spring Tour heads towards the final, Tom Wachman is the rider to watch. This young athlete is only stepping up to this level and is doing so in style, claiming his third win of the league at Cavan EC last Sunday.
Both arenas were in full swing from early morning as competitors sought valuable points on the league table ahead of the final on March 21st. Stuart Clarke and Alistair Megaghey were the course designers for the tour and provided fair but testing tracks throughout the day.
The 128cms CWD Spring Tour attracted 65 entries, from which 30 went through to the jump-off. This proved to be electrifying as the young athletes jockeyed for pole position. Rhys Williams and PARC Giggles, fifth to go, set an early target of clear in 33.23 seconds and held the top spot until 25 riders later.
Last to go, Wachman and PARC Epic rode the round of their lives to secure the win, going clear in 30.44. This puts Wachman and PARC Epic at the top of leaderboard with 22 points ahead of Max Foley and Sparkel on 11 points. Foley is also on the board with his two other ponies, Little Lord Of The Hills (4) and Flying Star (4).
Second place went to Rhys Williams and PARC Giggles with Max Foley and Little Lord of The Hills finishing in third clear in 33.40.
In the 138cms division there were 59 starters with 21 of these having to learn the jump-off course. Eight combinations completed on a zero score, with the fastest of these being Dan Geaney on County Express. This pair broke the beam in 33.63, just relegating Harry Allen and Fountain Ranger into runner-up spot as they had led for a while with a time of 33.95.
Third place went to Kate Derwin and Buttons Two as they made their debut into the league for 2015 in a time of 34.19. Heading into the league final in this category Jack Ryan and My Little Lady hold the top spot on 12 points, ahead of Sean Foley and K C Lady (11 points) and Dan Geaney and Amy Reape (Seapatrick Total Eclipse) fighting it out for third place on seven points each.
CHILDREN ON HORSES
In the Children On Horses class six combinations shared first place with a double clear round scoring three valuable points on the leader board. The six were consisted of Theo Van Cauwenberge on Quantum Quest, Daniel Fitzgerald on Gucci Lady, Lee Carey on Mt Cruise, Jack Ryan with Cavalier Teaca, Abbie O’Sullivan with Charlemagne and Jennifer Kuehnle riding Deita De La Bouverie.
Kuehnle leads this division with 12 league points, ahead of Fitzgerald and Ryan who share nine points apiece.
Not only is the CWD Spring Tour coming to its climax but also this was the penultimate trial for those seeking to represent their country in Fontainebleau in a month’s time.
Some 34 riders started in this 148cms 1.30m viewing class, watched carefully by HSI committee chairman Keith Griffin, team coach Tom Slattery and SJI representative Liz Brennan.
Ten riders went through to the jump-off and Harry Allen clearly stated his case as he took his second trial victory with Cassandra Van Het Roelhof, going clear in 34.86.
Second went to Abbie Sweetnam, another young athlete making a very successful transition to this level with Dynamite Spartacus, jumping clear in 35.84. Patrick Hickey finished in third with New Forge Lady, also clear in 39.14.
Closing the action in this arena was the CWD 148cms 1.20 Spring Tour, in which 71 competitors went to post and 15 took part in the jump off. Emerging victorious was Abigail McGeoghan-Santry and Garryndruig Churchill, this pair producing a clear in 35.49 to shorten the long journey back to west Cork.
Second place went to Patrick Hickey and Shercock Rose, clear in 37.61, moving this pair to the top of the leaderboard with 14 points. Ulster region athlete Tyrone Flanagan put up his first points on the league table by finishing third on Talyas Diamond Link clear in 39.37.
The final of the CWD Children on Horses and Pony Spring Tour takes place at Ard Chuain EC in Corballa, Co Sligo and would be well worth a visit to witness the wealth of talent among these young riders.