08 Aug Exciting conclusion to Mervue Final 2023
The Mervue Equine Leinster Tour came to an exciting conclusion last Friday at the Mullingar Summer Horse Championships. The 1.35m section attracted a large following with 127 combinations battling it out. Of the original starters 33 delivered double clear rounds. Leader on the board going into the final round, Aoife Dooely and Cavalier Teaca failed to make the top six in this occasion but a commanding lead saw her take the 2023 title. Overall Tour Runner-up and leading young rider was Taylor Peare and Lissyegan Geoffrey. The Overall Tour Pro-Am Winner was Mark Treacy and Beech Hill Tayla Blue.
Taking the final win was Daren Hopkins and Numero Cruise and with it the winners share of the €3,500 on offer . Hopkins meant business from the start on the two phase track, taking a tight turn from the double at nine and left handed to the oxer. He then negotiated a very tight line to the vertical across the arena at 11. A daring gallop to the final two oxers saw him clock the winning time of clear in 22.75.
Owned by Leo Carey, the 13-year-old stallion is by Numero Uno and is by the Cruising sired dam Ms Cruise.
Taking the runner-up spot was Shane Goggins and Boleybawn Cayman when they also came home clear in 24.98. Bred by Ronan Rothwell and owned by Jack Goaley the 11-year-old gelding is by Cassidee and out of the Ard VDL Douglas sired dam Boleybawn Riverto. This combination recently won the 1.35m Connaught Grand Prix in Tubberbride.
Less than a second behind was Wexford’s Michelle Kenny aboard her own Mohill Rosetta in a time of 25.26 for third. Bred by Martin Mc Glynn the 11-year-old mare is by Omar and out of the Glen bar sired dam, Glenda Bahrain. This pairing has been in form of late, claiming the 1.35m Grand Prix in the HHS Charity Show.
Little stood between the next placing, as Ausra Clarke and Janco-V crossed the line with nothing to add in a time of 25.40 for eventual fourth. Owned by Gregoary Clarke, the nine-year-old gelding is by Dakar VDL and is out of the Zirocco Blue VDL sired dam, Dakarla-V.
Young rider Rhys Williams and the eight-year-old Dodarde E Z accounted for fifth place, when they delivered a clear in 25.81. Bred by Maatschap van esch and owned by Jonathan Flynn, this stallion is by Dallas VDL and is out of the Zeus sired dam, Roselinde
Completing the top six was Eddie Moloney and CSF Gabby Abbey, clear in 26.51. Owned by Mark Williams and bred by Shane Connelly, the ten-year-old is by Kannan and is out of the Lancer III sired dam, Friedas Ramona.
1.20m Final
The final of the 1.20m saw the largest following with 172 combinations going to post. This was an extremely close class with the top eight combinations coming home clear and within 30 seconds. Following a competitive tour it was Barry Griffin and SBH Diamond in the Rough who claimed the title, while the overall Tour runner-up was Ruairi Alyward and Clonagoose Sky Bouncer.Claiming the overall Tour Young Rider title was Jack M Murphy and Ballinteskin Gaia.
A familiar face in the line-up in the Mervue league, Aoife Dooley added another win to her record as she partnered the Marguerite Ryan owned Cavalier Teaca to a clear in 26.42 to take the final win. The 16-year-old mare is by Gildawn out of Cavalier Teaca sired dam, Teaca
Sven Hadley took two places in this line-up, delivering his best result with Siobhra, clear in 27.23 for second place. Hadley also accounted for fourth with Sumas Taloubet, when they crossed the line in 28.21.
Dividing Hadley’s placings was junior Stephen Gibbons and Clooncalagy Beauty, clear in 27.88 for third.
Nicole Kershaw and Novellent answered all the questions in 29.21 for fifth place, ahead of Peter Mc Mahon and the seven-year-old Martell Me This.
1.10m Final
Leading the victory lap in the 1.10m final was Nicola Fitzbibbon and the Langara Ventures owned Hard To Beat, when they put in a blistering round of clear in 23.98. This nine-year-old gelding is by Indoctro and is out of the Laroche sired dam, Rilja.
Amateur rider Marie Hartley went into the final round in top position and she added to her points tally as she took two places in the final line-up. Hartley (AA) took the runner-up spot with her own Nikita Van Het Heidenhof, when clear in 25.96 to claim the overall title. She also accounted for eventual fourth with Scarthill Vendi, when she kept all the poles in place in a time of 26.80, which saw her take the overall runner-up prize..
Young rider Nadine Carey accounted for third place with the Deirdre Murnane owned Sacre Bleu, when they put in a foot-perfect round in 26.70.
Sven Hadley also featured in this line-up, slotting into fifth with the Euro Horse Axel Verloy owned six-year-old, Royal Emerald QC.A clear from Brendan Murphy and the Michelle Hughes owned Ballyheerin Rocket Girl (5 YO) in 28.53 saw them complete the top six line-up.
Following a consistent performance over the league, Brona Keane and Quality Diamond were crowned the overall young rider champions of this section.