SVEN Hadley and Carroll Produce Ltd’s Dutch-bred gelding Fabuleu VD Watertoren won the final round of the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour Grand Prix League in CoilÓg last Sunday.

Hadley made it an impressive one-two when he added the runner-up spot with his other mount Uidam.

In addition, Hadley also won the overall league; topping the leaderboard after the 15 rounds were completed with Phenomene Bleu VDM on 48 points.

Speaking after the final, Hadley said: “I jumped five or six horses over the league and I was delighted with how each of them performed. I thought the standard of course building was exceptional. I felt my horses all improved with every leg they did and it will serve them well going forward.

“I was particularly pleased with Axel Verloy’s eight-year-old stallion Phenomene Bleu VDM (Diamant De Semilly x Nabab De Reve). We always thought he was pretty special. He’s only really started to compete properly last year as a seven-year-old, and was pretty green and he just got better and better.

“We had planned to do just the first few rounds with him but he was so consistent that we just kept going so to finish at the top of the leaderboard is amazing.”

Hadley added: “For many riders who are based here at home, this TRM sponsored league is vital for getting the horse’s year off to a positive start. Going abroad has gotten so expensive since Brexit so being able to go to good venues with good courses, prize money and well organised shows at home has become even more important.”

The Brennan brothers of Timmy and Eoin also recorded fantastic results throughout the league. Timmy has excellent results aboard both Diadema Della Caccia (Diamant De Semilly x Cardento) and GCS Ita (OBOS Quality x MHS Attraction), eventually finishing runner-up on 42 points despite missing a chunk of legs due to international travel.

Eoin was also in great form with Eskola M (Singapore x Mermus R) and slotted into third in the league, finishing on 30 points.

Following his two wins and other placings throughout the spring, Timmy was awarded the TRM Young Rider Ambassadorship for 2023. Following the final round he said: “This league provided a great start to the year for our horses, and was a good way to prepare for the few weeks we spent in Italy and for the Nations Cup, which we won.”

Final round

Just 25 combinations lined out for the final 1.40m class which offered a €3,000 prize fund, and 10 of those produced a first round clear to progress to the decider in the competition.

Daniel McAlinden was pathfinder with Ann Gannon’s home-bred gelding AHG Whiterock Doctor Cruise (Indoctro x Cruising); they had one fence down in 42.48.

Next to go was junior rider Matthew Farrell riding his mother Valerie’s LKD Mini Q (OBOS Quality 004 x Aldatus Z); the pair ran into trouble in the second round and finished with 14 faults to add.

Triple-handed against the clock, Hadley and his first mount, Patricia Grimes’ Siobhra had two fences down to see them out of the running before, fourth to go, international event rider Cathal Daniels and Cappog Tomy (Camiro de Haar Z x S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe) produced the first double clear round in a time of 45.27 which would be good enough for eventual fourth place.

Hadley and his second mount, his own 15-year-old mare Uidam (Luidam x Cavalier Royale) managed to slice over two seconds off the leading time, breaking the beam in 43.17 to claim eventual second place.

Jamie Garland and Robert Garland’s Zedleppin (Luidam x Cavalier Royale) also left all the fences intact, but in a slower time of 50.26 which would keep them just inside the money in sixth place.

Shane Moloney and RHS Blue (Cheers Cassini x Cruising Micky Finn) then joined the four-faulters when they had one on the ground.

Next was Hadley and Fabuleu VD Watertoren. Their faultless round in 42.55 sent them straight to the top of the class, a position they would hold on to and claim the class.

The penultimate pair in, Edward Doyle and his home-bred gelding Quick Bill (Flexible x Quick Star) managed a clear round but in a slightly slower time of 46.55 for fifth place, while last to go, Ethen Ahearne and Dermott Walsh’s seven-year-old LVS Goldrush (Stakkato Gold x Stakkato) were ahead of that in 43.41 for eventual third place.