With Storm Emma causing havoc the week before last, both the Plusvital/Holmestead pony Spring tour at Cavan and the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour at Killossery were forced to cancel, and with dates already allocated it is unlikely that these rounds will be rescheduled.

Last weekend, riders welcomed the return to normal jumping competition, where the action moved north as riders travelled to Portmore for the fourth round of the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour.

Despite a good representation of riders from around the country, it was local rider Angela Percy riding El CID V.H. Migroveld that took the win. Owned by Percy herself, El Cid V. H. Migroveld is a 14-year-old Belgian-bred gelding by Querlybet Hero out of the Pachat II-sired mare, Manitoba.

Speaking about the win, Percy said: “I got the horse from Cian O’Connor last year and he is a really talented horse. I am hoping for a good season with him and hopefully aim for Balmoral International classes.”

SECOND FOR SHANNON

Last year’s winner of the tour in Portmore, Shannon Mackenzie was keen to clinch another win. However, despite her best efforts aboard Bens Lady Lux, she could only fill second place on this occasion.

Owned by Mackenzie, Bens Lady Lux is by Lux Z out of the Cavalier Royale-sired dam Leading Edge. Purchased as an unbroken three-year-old from breeder David Blessington, the home-produced mare has been a prolific winner for Mackenzie.

They won the inaugural Irish Breeders’ Classic in 2012, the now 11-year-old has a consistent record from the age classes including representing Ireland at the World Breeding Championships in Lanaken in 2013, competing in the international seven and eight-year-old class at the Dublin Horse Show, before stepping up Grand Prix level and internationally, to CSI3* level.

Last year the combination ended the season with a win in the Table A in Cavan CSI1*.

TOP OF LEADERBOARD

Although the current champion, Sven Hadley has failed to secure a win in the series so far this year, he has strengthened his position on the leaderboard with placings in Broadmeadows and Cavan.

Riding his own Realt Na Carraig, he secured third place in this line-up.

Bred by Elsie McVeigh from Tyrone and owned now by Hadley Sport Horses, Realt Na Carraig is a 14-year-old gelding by Lux Z out of the Royal Renown-sired dam Realt Na Mhara.

The dam, Realt Na Mhara, has two other progeny registered, one which was bred by McVeigh, a traditional bred, Realt Na Gleann (2003), by Coronea Eagle. Tom Doherty also bred from the mare in 2007 and opted to use Guidam.

Although Hadley had to settle for third in the Spring Tour, he didnt go home too disappointed as he took the win in the 1.30m with Quanbell (Quentin x VB) and fourth with Why Not Fado (Cardenio x Why Not Van Hec Haelemeershos). The Galway rider also took the win in the 1.20m aboard Ganorad (Bacardi vdl x Anora) and fourth with Why Not Fado.

The leading young rider in Portmore was Abbey Morton riding the home bred Blueoak Yogi.