13 May Seamus Hughes Kennedy takes the opening win in the Mervue Equine Leinster Tour
The opening round of the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour took place last weekend with Barnadown playing host one of this popular series.
The 1.35m decider saw a total of 91 combinations go to post in the €2,000 class.Clinching victory on this occasion was Kilkenny rider, Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Echonix when they lodged a double clear in a time of 33.80 Owned and bred by Brendan McSorley, the 10-year-old stallion is by Aganix Du Seigneur and is out of the Clover Echo sired dam, Echo Peach.
Runner’s up in the Gain Alltech in Galway Sven Hadley and Phenomene Bleu VDM claimed second place when they were just over two seconds slower in a time of 35.89. Owned by Hadley Sports, the nine-year-old stallion was bred by Famile Bruggeman and is by Diamant De Semilly and is out of the Nabab De Reve sired dam, Nuance Bleue VDM Z.
Susan Fitzpatrick followed closely behind with her mother Sharon’s eight-year-old, Keatingstown Mister Cool, clear in 36.18 for third place. Bred by Gestut Lewitz, the gelding is by Messenger and out of the Chacco Blue sired dam, Chaccata’s Girl. T
Francis Connors delivered a clear with RNH Valentino to a clear in a time of 37.78 for eventual fourth place. Owned by Raymond McChesney and bred by Normand Hammond, the nine-year-old gelding is by Van Gogh and out of the Beach Ball sired dam, RNH Beach Ball.
A double clear from Junior European Team Gold Medalist Coen Williams and Elsandro Du Bois in a time of 38.91 saw them take fifth place. Owned by Williams Sport Horses, the ten-year-old stallion is by Sandro Boy out of the Diamant De Semilly sired dam, Azalee Du Bois.
Fellow Junior European Gold Medalist, James Brennan also delivered a clear albeit in a slower time of 39.31 aboard MHS Jersey Girl for sixth place. Owned and bred by Sinead Brennan, the 13-year-old mare is by Cardento and is out of the Quidam Junior 1 sired dam, MHS Prime Time.
1.20m
On Sunday, 67 combinations went to post in this competitive class. Taking the win was amateur rider Aileen McDermott and Amber Balou, when they lodged a double clear in 33.56. Deirdre Doyle was less than a second behind with Kancruise in a time of 34.48 for second. Little separated the next placing, as Brendan Murphy and PNP Rocco delivered a clear in 34.90 for third, while Local rider Annie Boland accounted for eventual fourth when she maintained a clean sheet aboard The Hurricane in a time of 38.55. Accounting for fifth place was Hannah Connors Smyth and Ad Fundum D’Ersr Z, when they crossed the line, clear in 38.73, ahead of Hannah Fleming and Ritter, when clear in 40.65.
1.10m
Aileen Mc Dermott was back in the ribbons as she also claimed the win in the 1.10 division. Riding Amber Balou, she delivered the winning round of clear in 27.07. Junior rider Cian Byrne followed closely behind with Ciao Bella, coming home clear in 28.13 for second. Amateur rider Ciara Kelly (AA) and Annestown Clover Concorde took third, clear in 28.68m, ahead of fellow amateur rider Lisa Doyle (AA) and Corland’s Clipper who finished fourth place when clear in 28.71. Fifth place belonged toTracy Nolan and Ballinaguilkey Heritage, clear in 29.55, while is sixth was Patrick Joyce and Congress Flush, clear in 31.50 for sixth place.