VICTORY in the third leg of the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour at Jag Equestrian Centre stayed in Kildare as Straffan native Stephen Murphy took the win and with it the lion’s share of the €2,500 on offer.

First to go against the clock aboard Chantelle, he proved fastest of the six double clears in a time of 40.10 seconds. This combination is no stranger to success in this series, having claimed the leading working producer prize in 2021.

Jointly owned by Stephen and his father Brian, Chantelle was bred by amateur show jumping rider and family friend Gerry Traynor. The 13-year-old mare is by Lux Z out of the Errigal Flight-sired Texaco’s Delphine. The Murphy family also purchased Chantelle’s full-sister Luxs Curious from Traynor, who is the dam of She’s Got it and went on to finish in the top 30 in the five-year-old final at Lanaken last year.

Speaking afterwards, Murphy said: “I was delighted with the win. The class was very competitive and Tom Holden designed a fair track. It’s always hard to go first in the jump-off, but I knew the mare was fast and that I could take some tight lines with her. We negotiated a tight line from two to three and then on to four-five. This is where I made up the time. The mare has plenty of experience so I knew I could just let her canter on and maintain a quick pace.”

Of the venue, he commented: “JAG has done great work on the arenas and it was great to compete in such a good venue and close to home. I would like to thank TRM for their continued support of the league and the Showjumpers Club for their hard work.”

In total, 32 combinations lined out to take on the Holden-designed course and of those, 16 delivered clears first time out.

Event rider Cathal Daniels is proving very consistent in this league, taking the runner-up spot with Cappog Tomy when he crossed the line with nothing to add in a time of 41.54. This combination had placed fifth in the opening round at Portmore Equestrian and were fifth in the round at Cavan Equestrian Centre. The 11-year-old gelding was bred by Tommy Reilly and is by Camiro De Haar Z out of Cornacassa Ferro.

Kildare’s Grace McHugh and Berlios Van De Kapel were just over a second slower, clocking 42.74 for third place. Owned by GMH Sporthorses, the 16-year-old KWPN gelding is by Quasimodo Z out of the Gladstone-sired Superior Van De Kapel.

A clear from Anthony O’Regan and Feedback in 44.90 was enough to secure fourth place in the line-up. Owned by Jackie Moloney and bred by Dieter Fischer, the 11-year-old gelding is by First selection out of Rieke.

Wexford rider Patrick Byrne was hot on O’Regan’s heels, but despite a gallant attempt with Ballyorney Storm Boy, a clear in 45.62 would prove only good enough for fifth place. Owned and bred by Anne Kavanagh, the 11-year-old gelding is by Flexible out of the Clover Hill-sired Ballyorney Allianna.

Kilkenny’s Timmy Brennan’s faultless performance with Eskola M in 49.65 saw him slot into sixth place and with this result, he was also named the leading young rider of the round. Bred by J.W.G. Mooren and owned by Tim Brennan, the 13-year-old gelding is by Singapore out of Aranca.

Claiming the leading working producer at JAG was Kildare primary school teacher Jamie Garland. Garland, who was riding Zedlepplin, was unlucky to have one down in the jump-off in 49.02. Bred by Jill Garland, the 13-year-old gelding is by Luidam out of Tillula.

Win for Murphy

Winner of the 1.25m class was Michael Murphy riding David Cullen’s eight-year old J’Adore, clear in 34.32. Little separated the next placing as Deirdre Doyle clocked 35.24 with BLM Authentic Diamond. Slotting into third was Robert Garland and One More Mo, clear in 37.26, ahead of young rider Alex Reynolds riding Fiaona Brady’s Farnane Lily, clear in 37.59. Patrick Byrne and Ballyorney Storm Boy accounted for fifth place when he kept all the poles in place in 38.55, ahead of Edward Doyle and Renkum A’Toast, clear in 38.82.