VICTORY in the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour at Warrington last Sunday belonged to Carlow rider Max Foley. Riding Michael O’Neill’s Hermes De Cavalier, he was fastest of 18 double clears in the 1.35m two-phase special class in a time of 28 seconds.

Owned by Michael O’Neill and bred by Peter Rice, the 15-year-old gelding is by Hermes De Reve and is out of the Cavalier Royal-sired dam, Royal Cavalier Marble.

As in previous years, the Kilkenny venue attracted large entries, with 56 taking on the Gueorgui Gueorguiev-designed course. The course, which was a step up from the previous rounds, was over 13 fences, with a double at five (oxer to a vertical) and a double at nine (vertical to an oxer). The double in the second phase, which allowed riders to go inside, saw those with a win in mind make up valuable time.

Jack Brennan was almost two seconds behind with MHS High Hopes, clocking 29.88 for second place. Bred by Ita Brennan, the 13-year-old gelding is by Quidam Junior 1 and is out of the Cavalier-sired dam Gowran Lady.

Annabel Shields added to her record, taking third place with Creevagh Carisma, when she crossed the line in a time of 30.50. Owned by Shields and bred by the late Ronnie Hollinger, Creevagh Carisma is a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Camiro De Haar Z and out of Creevagh Duca Di Clover. This combination has proved very consistent in this league, taking the win in Jag Equestrian, Killossery and in Wexford Equestrian. Shields currently tops the leaderboard with Creevagh Carisma on a total of 36 points.

Winner of the round in Cavan, young rider Gary Dooley put valuable points on the board, as he partnered CSF Olympic Jewel to a clear in 31.56 for eventual fourth place. Owned by Declan Dooley and bred by Brian Connolly, the eight-year-old mare is by Mylord Carthago and is out of the Clover Hill-sired dam, Olympic Clover. This was an important result for Dooley, as this combination is currently in second place on the overall leaderboard on a total of 24 points.

Local rider Ger O’Neill accounted for fifth place with Deirdre Reilly’s Finnegan D, when he stopped the clock in a time of 32.55. This 14-year-old stallion is by Singapore and was previously campaigned by Reilly and Neal Fearon up to CSI4* level in 2023.

Resident junior rider, Emily Moloney put in a super round with Capitol Cruise and her time of 33.49 saw her take sixth place. Moloney also took seventh place with Temple Alice, when they clocked 34.38. Owned by Ian Smyth, Capitol Cruise is a 17-year-old mare by Ard VDL Douglas and is out of the Cruising-sired dam, Forest Mistral.

Robbie Sheehan (COH/JU) and Ahare Olympic Flemmencio, winners of the 1.10m class at the Warrington leg of the Spring Tour \ Rolf Stenberg jumpinaction.net

1.25m

A total of 85 combinations lined out for the 1.25m (including the seven-year-old Hibernian League) and, taking the win, was Emily Moloney when she was fastest of the 37 clears aboard Capitol Cruise in a time of 57.53. Young rider Jazmine Arthur and All that Jazz, took the runner-up spot, when they were fractions behind in a time of 57.96. Sven Hadley was back in the ribbons for another week, taking third with Top Spin, when they came home in 58.17. Junior rider Alice Moloney added to the family’s tally, taking fourth with Castlefield Cass, when stopping the clock in a time of 59.25. Annabel Shields and the seven-year-old Royal Emerald slotted into fifth, when they clocked 60.52, ahead of Eddie Moloney and the seven-year-old Rosamund, in a time of 60.81.

1.10m

There was another big entry for the 1.10m (including the six-year-old Hibernian League), with 87 going to post. Local junior rider Robbie Sheehan led this victory lap aboard Ahare Olympic Flemmencio, when fastest of the 59 clears in a time of 23.64. Little separated the next placing as amateur rider Lisa Doyle (AA) and Corland’s Clipper galloped home in a time of 24.43. Junior rider Henry Sinnott accounted for third place with Lissban Safirah in a time of 27.54, ahead of Eddie Moloney and the six-year-old Kilnamac Cody in a time of 28.13. Slotting into fifth place was Jim Donohoe and Balrowan Chilli Z, in a time of 28.93, while in sixth was local rider Tholm Keane and the six-year-old Nairobi, in a time of 29.40.

1m

Claiming victory in the 1m (including the five-year-old Hibernian League) was Waterford rider Paddy O’Donnell aboard his own five-year-old, Leo For HSH, when clear in 37.11. Claiming the runner-up spot was Abigail Boland on the five-year-old Orange de Baugy, delivering a clear in 37.30. Carl Webb partnered the Marion Hughes-owned five-year-old HHS Verona to a clear in 37.71 for third, while in fourth was Luca Bortolamei aboard the Carol Gee-owned five-year-old OZ Aasj, clear in 38.37. Slotting into fifth place was Dylan Savage and the Niamh Rothwell-owned FWS Colandro (5 YO), clear in 38.54, while Abigail Boland returned to the line-up, claiming sixth place with Mary Boland’s Gorsevalley Camante (5 YO), clear in 38.70.