ACTION in the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour continued in Portmore on Sunday where Harry Marshall took the win with Daylight VHS Z.
Owned by Marshall, Daylight VHS Z an eight-year-old Belgian-bred Zangersheide mare by Douglas and out of the Indorado-sired Morning Star.
They were the fastest of seven clear rounds in 38.32 seconds. Last year the combination jumped on the European circuit up to CSI4* level.
A total of 24 lined out for the Grand Prix and from those, 11 delivered first-round clears. John Floody shot to the top of the leaderboard when he took the runner-up spot with Accidental Diamond when clear in 38.83. Owned by Kathryn Magennis and bred by John Kearney, Accidental Diamond is a 10-year-old gelding by Diamond Roller and out of the High Roller mare Cottage Donna.
The pair now lead on 33 points ahead of the the Wexford winner Jackilynn Breslin (26) after claiming third place in Cavan the week before, as well as a second place and a win at the same venue in the league in previous rounds.
Luke Campbell was only a fraction of a second behind with David Campbell’s 10-year-old gelding Derryinver Truffle (Tornesch x Cruising) in 39.15 for third place.
Winner of the round in Cavan the week before, young rider Katie McEntee answered all the questions aboard Hip Girl in 39.50 for eventual fourth. Owned by Stephex Stables and bred by Tarno Saterioch Sigane, Hip Girl is a 13-year-old Swedish bred mare by HipHop out of the Carthago-sired Mysterious Girl 2.
The mare is no stranger to this level of competition having had a very successful career with Katie’s brother John.
Katie took over the ride at the back end of last year and has gelled with the mare. The pair also claimed the first round of the league in Portmore.
Last year’s overall winner Emma McEntee slotted into fifth place with RHS Blue, when clear in 40.26. Owned by John Hoyne and bred by Deirdre McGuckian, the nine-year-old mare is by Cheers Cassinin and out of the Cruisings Micky Finn-sired Tullibards Ask Benny and was runner-up in Cavan the previous week.
This mare was previously campaigned up to 1.35m level by Brendan Murphy.
Last year’s winner Nicholas Bothwell also kept all the poles in place with Always On My Mind in a time of 44.34 for sixth place. Owned by Rosemary Bothwell, the 15-year-old gelding is by Ard VDL Douglas and out of the Andiamo-sired mare Sandiamo.
Last of the double clears was delivered by Nicole Kershaw with Philip Rosbotham’s home-bred gelding Avalent (Valent x Aventyno Z) in a time of 46.82.
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