Report: David Darragh

The fourth leg of the Guidam Spring Tour, sponsored by Knightfield Equestrian in conjunction with The Showjumpers Club, took place at Cavan Equestrian Centre, today. Supported by Darragh Equestrian Solutions and Royston Products, featuring the Funnell Range. With 2000 euro on offer Eddie Moloney snatched pole position back in the Guidam Spring Tour Standings from Capt David O'Brien and Andrew Bourns in a blistering round which saw him over 3 seconds ahead to see off young rider Greg Broderick.

50 of the original 61 declarations started with a high degree of injury sidelining many. The course, which comprised of 12 fences and 15 efforts by resident course builder Stuart Clarke, consisted of 8 verticals, 7 oxers, a double and a triple combination. 10 went in to the jump off.

It took a while to produce a clear and in that period Grand Prix specialists such as Ortwin De Laubry, Ronan Mc Laughlin and Spitfield with Olive Clarke very surprisingly got caught out. 8th combination in, Irish Field columnist Tara Dunne with An Cailin Aoibh, fresh from practice on the Sunshine Tour came back with the first clear to be followed 2 horses later by Capt David O'Brien on Kiltoom who were placed 6th last week at Kilronan. We had to wait another 16 competitors before Olive Clarke and her second mount Loughnavatta Diamond went clear but saw Johnny O' Connell Coevers Dream, Korlanda, Christian Coyle, Luciano and Mark Mc Auley be robbed by the last fence an oxer 135 with a 140 spread. 8 more casualties which included Athea Clover Mist John Floody and Holmstead Little Lancer, Sarah Jane Tracy were also despatched before Quarrier, Greg Broderick, Rivaal, Conor Swail, Carrow Diamond, Declan Mc Garry, Owen 11, Jack Doyle, KFG Anthony T, Liam Filan, Chatsworth Dan, Eddie Moloney, and finally, last weeks winner Kilteely with Capt David O'Brien go through for the 10 way jump off.

The 6 fence 7 effort jump off course caused 1st in An Cailin Aoibh and Tara Dunne some trouble when caught by the now reversed fence number 1 which had to be jumped in the opposite direction to that in the 1st round, returned 4 faults in a very respectable 33.91. Joint Guidam Spring tour leader Capt David O'Brien and Kiltoom looked every bit more cautious with a clear in 36.36. The pace quickened considerably with Olive Clarke and Loughnavatta Diamond clear in 34.88 and quicker again Greg Broderick with Quarrier clear in 34.69. Next up was speed expert Conor Swail and Rivaal who flaked around in the fastest time clipping the back bar of the last fence for 4 in 30.68. Jack Doyle and Owen 11, Carrow Diamond Declan Mc Garry had one down each. Liam Filan and KFG Anthony T had 2 down. The penultimate round by Eddie Moloney who went clear in 31.19 kind of though down the gauntlet to last weeks winners Capt David O'Brien and Kilteely forcing an error at the 135 x 130 oxer at 7a giving 4 faults in a time of 30.98 for 6th place.

The presentation ceremony was overseen by Guidam Spring Tour Sponsor and Knightfield Equestrian owner Tom Rowland who announced today his decision to sponsor the series for another year next season.

Memento Guidam Grand Prix Spring Tour 2006 Royston Rugs sponsored by Knightfield Equestrian and Darragh Equestrian Solutions were presented to the winner Eddie Moloney and Chatsworth Dan putting him at the top of the leader board on 24 pts. Best young rider went to 2nd place Greg Broderick with Johnny O' Connell's Coevers Dream scooping best Turned Out for his groom Jenny Cruise, sponsored by the Showjumpers Club.