Dylan Ward lands victory in the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour.

20 May Dylan Ward lands victory in the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour.

The sun shone for the second round of the Mervue Equine Leinster Tour at Jag Equestrian last Saturday. Riders traveled near and far in a bid to clock up points.

It was a well worth trip from County Down for Dylan Ward as he clinched victory in the 1.35m division. Riding Kruser DHH, he lodged the winning round of 36.53 in a 12 way jump-off. Owned by Quality Sport Horses, the nine-year-old gelding is by Harley VDL and is out of Dame Blanche.

Ward’s  closest rival was  Barry Griffin who partnered his own 10 year-old mare, Sbh Diamond In The Rough, crossing the line in a time of 36.98. 

Kildare’s  Derek Mcconnell also maintained a clean sheet with his own Longfield Quinlui, but in a time of 37.82 for third place. A clear from Nicola Fitzgibbon and the Langara Ventures owned seven-year-old Gracefield Apollo in a time of 38.86 saw her take fourth place. Anna Carway and her own Baskin Sunny Diamond accounted for fifth place, when they delivered a clear in 44.09. Ethen Ahearne’s clear with Dermot Walsh’s eight-year-old LVS Goldrush in a time of 48.84 proved good enough for sixth place.

In the 1.20m division with 26 going to post in the two phase special. Of the original starters, 14 delivered double clears. Taking the win was amateur rider, Lisa Doyle (AA) and Corland’s Clipper, when they came home in a time of 26.91 seconds. Junior rider Jamie Hargaden was and the  the seven-year-old, Maggiemae, took second when clear in a time of 27.52. Amateur rider Caroline Doyle (A) and the eight-year-old, Toberpatrick HL Todd came home with nothing to add in 28.73 for third place. Anita Hickey (AA) and Carigeen Buachail took fourth place when they came home clear in 31.89, ahead of Honor Bills-Everett accounted for fifth place with Cemondo Z, in a time of 32.58. Completing the line-up was Michael Murphy and Voodoo Quality, in a time of 34.81.

In the 1.20m division, it was  junior rider Jamie Hargaden and Gernon RS that took the win when they came home with nothing to add in a time of 33.80. Dylan Ward partnered the six-year-old Stromboli Der Dolen to a clear in 36.03 for second place. Timmy Keogh also answered all the questions aboard Jaguar Blue, in a time of 37.62 for third place. Local rider Edward Junior claimed  fourth with OKE Lulu Star, when he kept all the poles in place in a time of 38.56, while  Edward Doyle (snr) was a split second behind aboard PHS Livin It Up, in a time of 38.95 for fifth. Ethen Ahearne and the six-year-old Nozem B also came home with nothing to add in a time of 41.40 for sixth place.