Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour First Leg

The Mervue Equine Summer Leinster Summer Tour kicked off at Barnadown.

The 1.10m division attracted the biggest entry with 102 combinations battling it out. No stranger to this pressure, amateur rider Lisa Doyle got her campaign off to a great start as she claimed the win. Riding Corland’s Clipper she came home clear in a time of 31.10. Kilkenny rider Brona Keane took the longer route with Quality Diamond and it paid off as she came home clear in 34.05 to take the runner-up spot. Amateur rider Ashley O’ Sullivan and Dowdstown Quality slotted into third when clear in 34.31, while in fourth place was children on horses rider Molly Taylor and RNH Parisian Blue, clear in 35.62. Fifth place belonged to junior rider Bríd Ryan with the five-year-old GCS Jasmine, clear in 37.14, while Molly Taylor and Hard To Beat returned to take sixth place when clear in 37.60.

1.20m

In total, 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 that landed the win, when clear in 41.44. Kilkenny young rider, Seamus Hughes Kennedy and My Special Lauren took the runner-up spot, when he came home, clear in 42.94. Third place belonged to fellow young rider Jazmine Arthur and All That Jazz, when followed closely behind, clocking 43 seconds. Frazer Duffy partnered Carol Gee’s six-year-old Fernhill Count ON Me to a clear in 43.88 for eventual fourth. Wexford junior rider Maisie Adams took fifth place with Quina DW, when clear in 44.20, ahead of Madeleine Gervais and Ifra Van De Eik, who was also clear in 45.61.

The 1.35m section saw 69 combinations go to post in the J Donohoe BMW sponsored class. Claiming victory was local rider Abigail Boland and The Hurricane when they were fastest of 16 double clears in 30.84. Owned by Mary Boland, The Hurricane is a 17-year-old gelding by Tremoelgoch Clinton and out of Milly Gold.

Comdt Geoff Curran and the eight-year-old DHF Alliance came home in a time of 32.38 for second place. Bred by Paul Douglas, the mare is by ARD VDL Douglas and out of the Lux Z sired dam, Rosie Bee.

Young rider Seamus Hennessy followed closely behind with King Louis AF, when clear in 33.08 for third. Owned by Lorcan Hennessy, the 11-year-old gelding is by Locarno 62 and out of Vamirette B.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 and out of the Cavalier Royale sired dam, Teaca.

Niamh McEvoy also maintained a clean sheet, albeit in a slower time of 33.96 with Haifa OL for fifth. Owned by Niamh’s father Richard, the 11-year-old mare is by Nabab De Reve and is 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 and is out of the Cruising sired dam, Corraghoe Tiger.