YOUNG riders dominated the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour Grand Prix at Kernan Equestrian last Sunday as they claimed the top seven slots in the competitive round.

Leading the victory lap in the Alberta Capital-sponsored feature class was 17-year-old Rhys Williams and Cowboy Balou when they crossed the line clear in 37.13. This combination had been knocking on the door, claiming sixth place in the round at Tipperary Equestrian. Last year they also proved very competitive both at Young Riders and at Grand Prix level.

Speaking after the win, a delighted Rhys Williams said: “I had a great day jumping at Kernans Equestrian Centre today. Cowboy Balou is a 10-year-old gelding owned by my uncle Patrick Williams in Scotland. I have now been riding him for the last year. He had a very successful year last year with a lot of very good results and hopefully he can do the same this year again.

“Next week he will leave for Sentower Park in Belgium to the FEI Youth Nations Cup show with some of the horses that I also jumped here at the show today. I was happy with the way all my horses jumped today and the show ran very smoothly, thanks to the Kernan family. It was a great class today and thanks to TRM for their sponsorship, the Grands Prix are great to follow.

“This league itself is great to get your horses up and going for the year ahead. The prizes and prize money are good too throughout the league. It was also great to see the line-up full of young riders today in the Grand Prix. I would like to thank all my sponsors who support my efforts all year round continually, I couldn’t be here without their support.”

Owned by Williams Sport Horses and bred by Anja Mohrahrend zur Lage, Cowboy Balou is a 10-year-old German-bred gelding by Cornets Balou out of Picabo Street.

Competitive action

There was a good turnout for this round with 38 combinations going to post. Of the top eight finishers, five of the horses were eight-years old or under.

Less than a second behind Williams was Co Kilkenny’s Timmy Brennan and GCS Ita in a time of 38.07. This is the second good result for this pair having claimed fourth place in the round at Tipperary Equestrian.

Bred by Olivia Brennan and owned by Tim Brennan, the eight-year-old is by OBOS Quality out of MHS Attraction. This mare has an impressive dam line, with both the sire and dam being five-star performers. Among her earlier wins was the five- and six-year-old consolation class at the 2020 Breeders’ Classic show and later that year she won the prestigious five/six-year-old studbook final at Cavan Equestrian.

Defending champion Emma McEntee has proved very consistent and added another placing to her record, claiming third with Boss Quality, clear in 38.16. Bred by Brian Treacy and owned by Harold Lusk, the eight-year-old is by OBOS Quality 004 out of the Clover Fields-sired Treacys Clover.

No stranger to the winner’s enclosure, Alex Finney accounted for eventual fourth when she kept all the poles in place with Absolutely Kingmar Z in a time of 41.50. Winners in the 1.25- 1.30m at Dublin Horse Show last year, this pair are proving ones to watch. Owned by Jean Finney and bred by Gerry Marron, the 10-year-old mare is by Aganix Du Seigneur out of the Radco D’Houtveld-sired Class of Touch Hero.

Fifth place belonged to Eoin Brennan when he partnered Ninparo to a clear in 41.55. Owned by Richard Bourns, the 14-year-old gelding is by Nintender out of Grispara.

Limerick’s Robyn Moran also added to her impressive record when she took sixth place with Cushlas Fryday, when they crossed the line clear in 41.64. Owned by Vera Griffin and by bred by John Peter Finlay, Cushlas Fryday is an eight-year-old gelding by Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve out of the Apache D’Adriers-sired Une Ardente De Vie (SF).

This combination took fourth place recently in Warrington Equestrian.

Timmy Brennan was back in the ribbons, this time taking seventh place with Diadema Della Caccia, clear in 42.81. Bred by Delia Caccia and owned by Tim Brennan, this seven-year-old mare is by Diamant De Semilly out of the Cardento-sired Cardentina Della Caccia.

Last of the double clears in a time of 47.99 and slotting into eighth was Capt. Charlene Kehoe and Lough Scur Quality Lady. Bred by Seamus Tighe and jointly owned by the Minister for Defence, the eight-year-old mare is by O.B.O.S. Quality 004 out of the Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan-sired Lough Scur Sardiamond.