THE Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour got off to a great start last weekend with Barnadown playing host to the opening round.

The 1.35m decider saw a total of 91 combinations battle it out for the €2,000 on offer. Claiming the win was Kilkenny rider, Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Echonix, when they lodged a double clear in a time of 33.80 in the two-phase class. Owned and bred by Brendan McSorley, the 10-year-old stallion is by Aganix Du Seigneur and is out of the Clover Echo-sired dam, Echo Peach. This combination has been in the ribbons of late, taking fifth place in the TRM Spring Tour in Tipperary.