THE Mervue Equine Summer Leinster Summer Tour got under way last weekend with Barnadown playing host to the opening round. The 1.35m section saw 69 combinations go to post in the J. Donohoe BMW-sponsored round. Taking the opening win was local rider Abigail Boland and The Hurricane when fastest of 16 double clears in 30.84.

Owned by Mary Boland, The Hurricane is a 17-year-old gelding by Tremoelgoch Clinton out of Milly Gold. This combination has had much success in the young rider arena, qualifying for Dublin Horse Show last year in the 1.25/1.30m division.

Speaking after the win, Boland said: “He is a naturally fast horse. We have him for four or five years now. He won the young rider section of the Mervue a few years ago so I am delighted to back out. I am just out of young riders this year so the plan is to follow the overall league with him and pick up a few points in the next few venues.”

Comdt. Geoff Curran was almost two seconds slower with the eight-year-old DHF Alliance in a time of 32.38 for second place. Bred by Paul Douglas, the mare is by ARD VDL Douglas out of the Lux Z-sired Rosie Bee. Young rider Seamus Hennessy followed closely behind with King Louis AF, clear in 33.08 for third. Owned by Lorcan Hennessy, the 11-year-old gelding is by Locarno 62 out of Vamirette B.

Following a solid performance in the SJI Summer Series, Aoife Dooley and Cavalier Teaca took fourth place when she was a split second behind, clocking 33.09. Owned by Marguerite Ryan, this experienced mare is by Glidawn Diamond out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Teaca. Niamh McEvoy also remained with the 33-second barrier, clocking 33.96 with Haifa OL for fifth. Owned by Niamh’s father Richard, the 11-year-old mare is by Nabab De Reve out of Lafanie TH.

Young rider Ella Clancy and Corraghoe Steel completed the top six when clear in 34.44. Owned by Liam Clancy and bred by Patrick Smith, the nine-year-old gelding is by Mermus R out of the Cruising-sired Corraghoe Tiger.

Beecher scores

On Sunday, 96 combinations lined out to contest the 1.20m and following a very tight class it was Paul Beecher and the six-year-old Brogagh Darcy who landed the win, clear in 41.44. Young rider Seamus Hughes Kennedy and My Special Lauren took the runner-up spot when he came home clear in 42.94.

Third place was filled by fellow young rider Jazmine Arthur and All That Jazz, fractions behind in a time of 43 seconds. Frazer Duffy partnered Carol Gee’s six-year-old Fernhill Count ON Me to a clear in 43.88 for fourth. Wexford junior rider Maisie Adams took fifth place with Quina DW, clear in 44.20, ahead of Madeleine Gervais and Ifra Van De Eik, clear in 45.61.

Doyle does it again

The 1.10m division attracted the biggest entry with 102 combinations going to post. A prolific winner in this series over the years, amateur rider Lisa Doyle got her campaign off to a great start as she claimed victory.

Riding Corland’s Clipper, she came home clear in 31.10. Children on Horses rider Brona Keane opted for the safer route with Quality Diamond and came home clear in 34.05 to take the runner-up spot.

Amateur rider Ashley O’Sullivan and Dowdstown Quality took third, clear in 34.31, while in fourth place was COH rider Molly Taylor and RNH Parisian Blue, clear in 35.62. Slotting into fifth place was junior rider Bríd Ryan with the five-year-old GCS Jasmine, clear in 37.14, while in sixth was Molly Taylor and Hard To Beat, clear in 37.60.