With just two rounds before the final, Galway’s Sven Hadley extended his lead in the Connolly’s Red Mills Show Jumpers Club Spring Tour when he added another win to his record at Barnadown last Sunday.

Riding Hadley Sport Horses’, Sumas Taloubet he lodged the winning round when clear in a time of 42.76 seconds in the Ballywalter Farms Stsllions-sponsored class. This is the third win for this combination having won in the opening round at Jag Equestrian and the following week at Cavan. The pairing also finished third in Killossery and second in Ballinamona. As a result they have clocked up 44 points, 12 points ahead of the closest rivals Liam O’ Meara and Curraghgraigue Jack take flight. Speaking after the win, Hadley said: “I am delighted with the result today as all the horses jumped exceptionally well. Victoria Z and Quanbell were unlucky but that’s show jumping for you. Patrick (Hickey) had set a fast time, but as last to go I had the advantage to see where I could make up the time. There are still a few rounds to go, so it’s all still to play for as there are a few very good combinations close to me on the leader board”.

IT’S AN OLOGY

Sumas Taloubet is a 12 year-old by Taloubet VDL out of the Pride of Shaunlara (ID) sired mare It’s an ology. The gelding has been with Hadley since last Summer and has been successful at home and abroad up to Grand Prix level. Bred by Suma Stud, the sire Taloubet VDL was on lease from the VDL stud and went back to Holland as a four-year-old after Suma stud ceased standing stallions. Suma Stud was one of the first stud’s in Ireland to lease stallions from VDL and they brought in such stallions as Arkansas VDL, Douglas VDL, Ricochet VDL and Pessoa VDL. The geldings full brother, Sumas Talent was campaigned by Gary Quinn up to regional Grand Prix level.

On duty, course designer John Doyle set the track for the 59 starters, which saw 10 of those deliver clears in the first round. The jump off was a good galloping track and time could be make up in the turn back to the double at three and then on to the vertical. A good gallop to the last was a necessary requirement to be in with a chance of a win.

Almost a second behind and claiming the runner-up prize was local young rider Patrick Hickey riding Lucy Hickey’s Martini Van Overis Z when clear in 43.75s. This mare has been campaigned by Hickey since May 2016 and before this it was ridden by Donald Whitaker.

Jake Hunter, who has also featured in previous line-ups in the tour, was back to take another prize when he delivered a clear in a time of 45.72s aboard The Stallion Company’s 14 year-old Canturado (Canturo x Kamille II).

Shannon MacKenzie, who is certainly proving to be challenging the league standings, took fourth place with Dyolita when they crossed the line clear in 47.34s. Nicholas Butler proved that the time could be beaten when he clocked the fastest round with Vimminka in 42.12s, but it came at a price when he lowered a pole and had to settle for fifth place on this occasion.

Riding the GBBS Int LTD & Darragh Ryan owned Aerosmith, Darragh Ryan also beat the winning time when he clocked 42.70, but again a pole on the ground saw his hopes of a win fade and instead slotted into sixth place.

Keen to give himself the best chance, Sven Hadley took seventh place when he recorded four faults with Victoria Z in a time of 43.04s. He also accounted for eighth place with Quanbell when he faulted once in a time of 43.23s.

It was another good day for Vickie Anderson as she took the leading Pro-Am prize and Botanica hamper, while Patrick Hickey was named as leading young rider of the round.