Reigning Spring Tour Champion, Sven Hadley certainly showed his determination at Cavan Equestrian last Sunday when he rode to victory in the sixth leg of the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour.

Hadley, who has been knocking on the door in the last few rounds, secured his first win of the series aboard the reliable Sumas Taloubet. Up to this point, the Galway rider had kept himself in contention of the title with placings in Broadmeadows, Cavan and Portmore. These consistent results, now means that he lies in poll position on the leaderboard with 28 points.

Sumas Taloubet, owned by Hadley Sport Horses, was instrumental in Hadley winning the tour last year. Bred by Suma’s Stud, Sumas Taloubet is a 13-year-old by Taloubet Vdl out of the Pride of Shaunlara (ID) sired mare, It’s an ology.

Mackenzie magic

Part of a three-day championship show in Cavan, the Spring Tour attracted a massive entry, with 69 combinations going to post. From those, 17 proceeded to the timed round and 10 delivered double clears.

First to go, Shannon Mackenzie put in a foot perfect performance with Dyolita, when clear in 39.96 seconds, which would later see her finish third.

Bred by M. Terpstra and owned by Mackenzie, Dyolita is a 10-year-old German-bred mare, by Veron and out of the Ahorn-sired mare, Marjolita. Produced by Mackenzie from the age of four, the partnership have delivered good results, from the aged classes up to Grand Prix level.

Competing on the international circuit in 2017, this partnership clocked up some impressive results, which include, second in Opglabbeek CSI1* Table A and second in two Grand Prix Table A’s in Lier CSI1*.

Next in, Daniel Fitzgerald riding Mullentine Jetstream also delivered a clear, albeit in the more cautious time of 41.09, for eventual fifth.

Taking advantage of her midway draw, Shannon Mackenzie returned with Ben’s Lady Lux to better her own time, crossing the line, clear in 39.19 to take the lead.

This was another good result for this duo, having finished second at Portmore the week before.

Aylward ace

A familiar face on the pony circuit and young rider division, Oisin Aylward riding Bendix slotted into fourth, when they crossed the line clear in 40.92.

Placed second in the 1.30m at the Make a Wish Show in Cavan, Barry McCormack was back in the line-up. This time, a clear in a time of 41.65 aboard Armani Velvet saw him take sixth. Owned by McCormack, Armani Velvet is 13-year-old gelding by Heartbreaker, out of a Burggraaf sired mare, Mernita.

Last to go, all eyes were on Sven Hadley, as he took to the course with Sumas Taloubet. Setting off in his usual blistering pace, he left nothing to spare, as he stopped the clock in 30.96 seconds to take the win and in the process demoted Mackenzie into second.

MacKenzie, who finished second to Hadley in the Tour last year is still very much in contention, having moved up to joint second on the leaderboard on a total of 16 points.

Championships round-up

1.20m

Shannon Mackenzie may have missed out on the win in the Spring Tour, but she made no mistake in the 1.20m championship as she claimed victory aboard Dyolita. Tori Dunne, added to the Hadley Sports Horses haul, when she took the runner-up spot with Cassana, a 16-year-old mare, by OBOS. Quality 004 and out of Hallo Noble Girl.

Nano Healy had no shortage of support, as he partnered the Cavan Equestrian Centre-owned, Sligo Land Du Rouet into third (Balou Du Rouet X Landgraefin).

1.10m

It was a good show for Shannon Mackenzie, as she also claimed the 1.10m Championship with her own Peyroux (Heartbreaker x Vrolien). Taking the runner-up spot, was Lisa Gerbola Bushaway riding Robert Fagan’s seven-year-old gelding, Pop Art (Luidam x Jadore Chanel). Accounting for third was Lucy Morton riding the Paul Boyle owned Delton.