Action in the Connolly’s Red Mills Showjumpers Club Spring Tour moved up a notch last weekend as the three main contenders in the league dominated the line-ups in a double bill of the series. Two rounds took place last Sunday at Ballinamona in Waterford and in Portmore in Lurgan.

At Ballinamona Equestrian Centre, the reigning champion, Liam O’Meara made up for lost ground when taking his second win of the series. Riding Helen Sheridan’s nine-year-old, Jacomar-sired, gelding Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, the Tipperary rider took the win by just fractions of a second when he clocked the fastest clear of the 10-way jump-off in 26.72s. This combination had led the victory lap two week’s ago in Ravensdale.

Young rider, Michael Pender was just behind the winner when he galloped home aboard Curra Clover Flight in 26.86s. Not content with the runner-up spot, Pender also accounted for third place when he put in another faultless performance with Quarrycrest Clover in 28.22s.

This impressive performance meant that Pender also took the leading young rider prize. Local rider, Gemma Phelan put her first points on the board when she crossed the line with nothing to add aboard Loughnavatta Indigo in 28.87s for eventual fourth. Young rider Anna Carway opted for more cautious lines with Ajaccio and it paid off as she lodged a clear in 33.01s for fifth place.

Cork rider, Rory Horgan riding J’aime Van Het Beetjen slotted into sixth place when they proved fastest of the four faulters in 29.09s.

Liam O’Meara filled the remainder of the places in the line-up when he finished seventh with Kennysflight after incurring four faults in 29.61s. O’ Meara suffer a similar fate with Lincourt Lux in a slower time of 30.54s for eighth place.

Following another solid performance, Vickie Anderson was named as the leading Pro Am of the leg, which means that she holds a very strong position on this leader board, having claimed the prize in three rounds.

PORTMORE

Meanwhile in Portmore, Equestrian Centre, Sven Hadley and Shannon Mackenzie continued to battle it out in a bid to top the leader board as the series reaches the halfway point. Despite a gallant attempt from Hadley, Mackenzie got the upper hand on this occasion, taking the honours and then going on to dominate the line-up. Riding Ben’s Lady Lux, she has had to settle for runner-up on two occasion in this league, but the Co Antrim rider made no mistake this time out when she clocked the winning time, clear in 33.02s. In what was a very hard fought class, 10 of 25 starters proceeded to the jump-off.

Owned by Karen Mackenzie, Ben’s Lady Lux is a 10-year-old mare by Lux Z out of the Cavalier Royale-sired mare, Leading Edge. Produced by Mackenzie as a four-year-old, the mare has been consistently placed in the aged classes up to national Grand Prix level.

Keen to add points to his leader board tally, Sven Hadley lodged a clear with Sumas Taloubet, but in a slower time of 34.54s for second place. Although the Galway rider missed out on the win, he still lies top of the leader board on 34 points. Both riders were clearly on form as Mackenzie also accounted for third place when she partnered Dyolita to a clear in 37.45s, while Hadley slotted into fourth when he crossed the line in 37.54s with Quanbell.

Little separated the next placing as Mary McShane riding MMS Camilla also delivered a clear in 37.99s for fifth. Mackenzie completed the line-up when she took sixth place riding Chanel IV, clear in a time of 40.86s. No stranger to this type of pressure, James Hogg looked in contention as he took off in a determined pace with Always On My Mind, but eight faults in a time of 35.97s meant that he slotted into seventh place, ahead of Gerard Clarke and Ardragh Stein who also had two on the floor in a time of 36.02s. Taking the leading young rider award at Portmore was Conan Wright, while Jamie Garland was named as the leading Pro Am rider.