Last week’s CSI1* Millstreet Welcome Tour saw some of Ireland’s up and coming horses enter the competitive arena for 2019. Following two qualifiers, the five-year-olds were first to contest their final. Victory was shared between Daren Hopkins and Francis Derwin.

Riding John Deere MG, Hopkins delivered a clear in 31.16 as did Derwin and Ramiro Be Classe. Owned by Ballywalter Stables, John Deere MG is a KWPN gelding by Emerald. Bred by Michael Burke from Tyrone Ramiro Be Classe (ISH) is a gelding by Classe VDL and out of Ramiro in the Air (Ramiro B). Although Ramiro De Classe has been campaigned lightly, he already has demonstrated plenty of scope, qualifying for the four-year-olds in Dublin.

The six and seven-year-old final saw 40 combinations battle it out. Leading the victory lap, was Waterford’s Tadhg Beecher, who delivered a clear with Loughnatousa Castlefield in 28.63.

Bred by Noel Cawley in Kildare, Loughnatousa Castlefield is by Flexible and out of the Mohill Cavalier Clover-sired dam, Cavlsear. The 14-year-old dam has four registered offspring, two by Flexible and one by French Buffet and one by Easy Lift.

The final combination into the arena was Kate Derwin and Porsh Dolly, who jumped clear in 29.35 to finish second. Bred by Christy Fogarty from Galway and owned by Carol Gee, Porsh Dolly is an Irish Sport Horse, by Castlelawn Galloway and out of the Porsch sired dam, Porsh Lady.

Derwin added to her tally filling third with Carol Gee’s seven-year-old MHS Fernhill Showtime. Bred by the late Ita Brennan, the well related gelding is by Cavalier Royale and out of the O.B.O.S. Quality 004 sired dam, MHS OBOS Cruise. He is a full brother to HHS Calais who is currently being campaigned by Mikey Pender up to CSI3*.

Although it’s still very early days for four-year-old horses there was a good selection entered. However, some combinations were absent from the final day’s competition. In the end the four-year-old final was spilt between Aoife Cuffe (CSF Rena), Seamus Hayes (Bonmahon Emerald) and Timmy Doyle (Livia).

INTERNATIONAL ARENA

The first of six international classes began in the International Arena on Friday. Sven Hadley partnered Sumas Taloubet to victory in the 1.25m class, jumping clear in 61.09 seconds. Hadley also filled the run-up spot with Ganorad in 61.93.

Winners of the Spring Tour in Maryville, Thomas O’Brien and Miss Darco, won the second international class, the 1.30m Grand Prix qualifier. O’Brien had a memorable tour as he went on to win the final Grand Prix with Miss Darco, when he was fastest of seven double clears in 46.23.

Sven Hadley continued his winning ways in the 1.25m Table C on Saturday. Riding Ganorad, he put in a blistering round of 56 seconds. Thomas O’Brien added to his record sheet, when he won the 1.30m Table A with Philip McManus’ gelding Rockwood Pablo.

The duo was the fastest of 15 double clears in a time of 37.50. Bred by McManus, the ten-year-old gelding is by Darco and out of Goldwest. Winner of the penultimate class was Jessica Burke, when she delivered a clear with Faluna in 28.90 seconds.

SHOWJUMPERS’ CLUB SPRING TOUR

Despite clashing with Millstreet, there was a large attendance at Barnadown for the Spring Show. On Sunday, the Showjumpers’ Club Spring Tour took centre stage, with the top prize going to Oisin Aylward riding Barry O’Connor’s, Syhoejegaards Hurrycane Dice.

Bred by Niels Osterland, the nine-year-old Danish-bred mare is by Diamant de Revel and out of the Churchill-sired dam, Celine. The combination were the fastest of the six double clears in 42.10. This is the second series win for this duo, having also won in Cavan.

Tholm Keane and BMH Big Time filled second place when clear in 44.40, ahead of Gemma Phelan and GRG Acapella. Fourth went to Tadhg Kearney and Fanta M, clear in 47.19, while Michelle Kenny and Hillside Greg Dawn slotted into fifth, clear in 49.29. Joan Green put her first points on the board when she took sixth place with Vivendi Tipperary. Owned and bred by Tim O’ Shea, the nine-year-old mare is by ARS Vivendi and out of Concorde (KWPN) sired mare, Wise Girl.