ACTION in the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour continued at Inistioge in Co Kilkenny last weekend with close to 150 combinations competing over the three divisions.

Victory in the Jack Ryan-sponsored 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour went to Leah Stack when she delivered the only double clear of the class with her own and GBBS International-owned 13-year-old KWPN mare Fubalia (Verdi x Indoctro) in a time of 57.28.

This is a new ride for Stack having taken over from Anna Smith in April, and the combination recently finished sixth in the 1.25-1.30m RDS young rider qualifiers at Cavan to qualify for next month’s Dublin Horse Show.

In a two-horse jump-off, from 18 starters, Aoife Dooley was 10 seconds faster (47.25) with Marguerite Ryan’s Cavalier Teaca but unfortunately had a fence down to finish second.

The 16-year-old mare is by Gildawn out of Cavalier Royale-sired Teaca. The pair currently lie in the top three of the overall leaderboard.

Ruairí Aylward and Clonagoose Sky Bouncer were fastest of the four-faulters in round one for third place. Owned by Patrick Kavanagh and bred by Michael Kavanagh, the eight-year-old mare is Killinick Bouncer out of the Scribano mare Laura Dubh.

Also suffering four faults in the first round was Emily Dean on her own Poynstown Izzy for eventual fourth. The OBOS Quality nine-year-old mare was bred by Paula Widger out of Poynstown Amy (Chillout).

Slotting into fifth was Jack O’Donoghue and RNH Valentino, recent winners of the National Grand Prix at Charleville. Owned by Raymond McChesney, the eight-year-old gelding was bred by Normand Hammond and is by Van Gogh out of the Beach Ball-sired RNH Beach Ball.

Completing the top six was Jack Brennan and MHS Cosmo, also on four faults. Owned and bred by Sinead Brennan, the seven-year-old gelding is by Plot Blue out of the Cardento mare MHS Jersey Girl who was competed at the National Balmoral Championships last weekend under Jack Brennan.

1.20m

Leading the victory lap in the D Ryan & F Quirke-sponsored Mervue 1.20m was Ruairí Aylward riding the James P Kavanagh’s Clonagoose Sky Bouncer when double clear in 30.85.

From the starting field of 54, 15 combinations keep a clean sheet over the two rounds. Eddie Moloney took the longer lines with Peter O’Toole’s Ardkyle B and came home with nothing to add in 33.52 for second place.

Leah Stack was back in the line-up, this time taking third with GBBS Int LTD’s BP Wonder, clear in 34.04.

Accounting for fourth place was Harry Wood aboard the Ennisnag Stud’s ESI Lucius in 34.76, while in fifth was Shane Moloney and John Hoyne’s RHS Blue in 36.27.

Eddie Moloney completed the top six with his mother Ann’s Twain Flight, stopping the clock in 36.70.

1.10m

From a huge startlist of 65, the winner of the Doody Family-sponsored Mervue 1.10m was amateur rider Laura Walshe (AA) aboard her own Ballinaguilkey Heritage, clear in 30.80. Bred by John and Barbara Walshe, the 10-year-old mare is well-related; she is by Heritage Fortunus out of Cavalier Milly (Heritage Fortunas).

Following closely behind was fellow amateur rider Sarah Kate O’Donovan (AA) on her own Diamond Infinity, clear in 32.78. Bríd Ryan left all the poles in place with the five-year-old GCS Jasmine in 34.90 for third.

Aoife Dooley picked up two more placings when she partnered Marguerite Ryan’s five-year-old Kilnamac Cody to a clear in 36 seconds for fourth place.

Dooley also delivered a clear with Ryan’s Chica of De Rocky Mounten Z 36.62 for fifth. David Moran took sixth with the Michael Pender-owned Ardlinnan Lux 60, clear in 38.34.