The Showjumpers’ Club Spring Tour came to an exciting close last Sunday. Jason Foley and Castlefield Cass claimed victory in the final leg of the tour. However, it was Luke Garrigan, riding MHS La Scala, who took home the overall title and the young rider crown. For the second time, Vickie Anderson and Zac won the pro-am title.

Luke went into the final round 13.1 points ahead of his closest rival, fellow young rider Oisin Aylward with Syhoejegaards Hurricanes Dice. Both riders failed to make the line-up on the final day, but the points stood as they were in the penultimate round.

Foley took the win, when he stopped the clock, in a time of 35.56. Bred by Ger O’Neill’s father Jim, Castlefield Cass is a nine-year-old gelding is by Cassidee and out of the Puissance sired dam, La Moette.

The stallion Cassidee was campaign by Ger and competed in the young horse classes with much success under his command. He was later sold to French rider Gregory Cottard and jumped up to CSI3* level.

The dam, La Moette, was campaigned to 1.20m level by Gabrielle Beijer. Castlefield Cassie was competing in his second show of the year with Foley.

The plan is to take in a few of the New Height Premier Series and some foreign shows, with the aim of qualifying for the European Championships.

Owned by Luke, MHS La Scala comes from a long line of showjumpers. Bred by the late Ita Brennan, the 11-year-old mare is by Verdi and out of the Cavalier Royale sired dam, Lady Ligustra. She is a half-sister to Ballypatrick Mystique (Heritage Fortunus), who was campaigned by Greg Broderick to Grand Prix level.

Ballypatrick Mystique is currently competing on the European circuit with Italian rider Sveva Schiatti up to CSI 3* level. Eddie Moloney also another half-brother, (MHS Quinton) by Quintender.

Luke, who is from Swords, was part of the SJI Young riders Academy and was under the mentorship of Barry O’ Connor. Coincidently, O’Connor also currently employs, Oisin Aylward.

FINAL ROUND LINE UP

Taking the runner-up spot in the final was resident rider at Warrington Equestrian Centre, Eddie Moloney and Cruicerath Flexianna, clear in 36.30, ahead of Mikey Pender and HHS Fast Forward, clear in 37.04.

The former mount of Paddy O’Donnell, Louis D’Or was partnered into fourth place, by the young rider, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, when stopping the clock in 37.54.

Fifth place went to Mark Finnerty and All Action (39.24). Paddy O’Donnell completed the line-up finishing sixth with Swingtime (41.76).

PENULTIMATE ROUND

Captain Geoff Curran was the fastest of eight double clears, in a time of 40.39, at the penultimate round of the tour in Coilog on Saturday.

Curran partnered the nine-year-old gelding Carnlea, who was bred by Michael Quirke in Tipperary. He is by Ars Vivendi and out of the Olympic Luz sired mare, Woodside. The Quirke’s have registered five other foals by Ars Vivendi and another by Beowulf.

It was another competitive jump-off with 14 of the 57 combinations proceeding to the jump-off and the top six combinations all came home within the 50 second mark.

It was well worth the trip for Luke Garrigan, who cemented his place on top of the leader board ahead of the final, as he finished second with MHS La Scala (40.46).

There was very little between second and third as Harry Marshall stopped the clock in 40.91 with Barcelona (KWPN).

A familiar face in the pony arena, Kayleigh Soden wasted no time with Ard Leaderman (ISH) and a clear in 47.49, meant a fourth-place finish for her. Bred by Richard and Heather Wright from County Meath and owned by Soden, the 11-year-old gelding is by Luidam and out of the Ard VDL Douglas sired dam, Essenar Lou La.

The young Kilkenny rider, is trained by Eddie Moloney and took over the ride from Robert Harrison in 2017 and has been moving up the ranks since. In 2018 they competed in their first National Grand Prix. That same year they also put in strong performance on the European circuit, taking in Opglabeek CSI2 *, Lier CSI2* and Kronenberg CSI2*.

Returning from competition on the European circuit, Vincent Byrne came fifth with Ganturano (KWPN) (47.91). This eight-year-old gelding is a nice example of a horse that has been produced on the Irish circuit, through the aged classes.

In order to gain experience for this horse ahead of the summer season, Byrne competed in the one round of the tour in Ballinamona, before heading off to compete in Kronenberg CSI2*

Completing the top six line-up was Francis Connors and Canterbury Della Caccia, when they crossed the line in 49.87.