Ireland is geared up and ready to start the showjumping season with the first of the Knightfield Stud, Guidam Spring Tour.

This tour was started a couple of years ago to give home-based Irish riders the chance to bring their horses in earlier than the major grand prix tour, without having to travel to the continent and was the brain child of The Showjumpers Club and Knightfield Stud and there is no doubt that it is now fully accepted as a part of the circuit - the proof in this is the 89 entries for todays class.

The classes are listed as 1.30m with a 5cm leeway, giving a great opportunity for the riders with new horses to test them out and also for the younger riders wishing to impress selectors looking for European Championship combinations.

The weather was not to be kind on this Sunday in mid-March with snow falling all day and howling winds which were icey cold - but it didn't stop the numbers turning up and the lorry park was packed to bursting point.

The final declarations saw 88 starters with 22 through to the jump off. It has been a while since we have seen a jump off with such a huge crowd watching and roaring their encouragement.

First out was Jennifer Lalor and David Murphy's Rosshaven Rhia - trailblazing is never an easy task and Jennifer rode a super round to finish with an unfortunate two rails down in a time of 54.82secs.

Second into the ring was 14 year old Conor Drain

Olive Clarke was in fine form Paradise G owned by Diarmud Clarke - pictured above right - and they clocked up a super clear round in 45.07secs.to a very appreciative crowd.

Mervyn Clarke, riding Pauline Clarke's Frietag 18 didn't have the round of their dreams when the horse, who was already bold in the practice arena, took a dislike to the second fence and Mervyn opted to retire to fight again another day.

Young rider, Peter Moloney on his new mount for the season, Caprice - pictured below left. This lovely mare was formerly owned by Deidre Bourns and ridden by Andrew Bourns has formed an excellent partnership with Peter and they loked super in the first round to come back and put in a cracking jump off round, taking the long run to the final fence (the brick wall) to finish with all fences standing and an excellent time of 47.33secs.

Experienced senior rider Taylor Vard was next riding his own Lowhills Black Magic is a very smart piece of kit - today they had just an unlicky fence down to finish with four faults in 50.74secs.

Tholm Keane would have to have been the unluckiest rider in this jump off! Riding Ronan Tynan's Krafty Jack - pictured above right - they came in a little wiggly to fence one and clipped it out and then went to ride a very good round whith everything else staying in place - finishing with four faults in 47.44secs.

did manage to stay on board and then opted for retirement!

Pictured above right - Denis Flannelly of Kill International Equestrian Centre catches up with Dressage rider, Kevin O'Sullivan who popped in to watch some jumping.

Eddie Moloney, riding brother Ritchie's Lordon came through the finish flags but brought with him 12 faults in 62.31secs.

Corinne Hyde, riding John Hyde's Awbeg Duchess showed from the moment they entered the arena that they meant business! Corinne put her pedal to the metal, never taking a pull and the mad dash to the final fence had the crowd roaring encouragement and it all worked for this combination as they came through the finish flags with everything in place and a fabulous time of 42.96secs which put them strongly in front at this stage of the class. She was going to be tough to beat!

Mervyn Clarke on his second mount in this jump off, his own Quick Dollar - pictured below left - was not going to face retirement again - he meant business this round and was determined to beat Corinne but as the clock stopped, with all fences in place the clock stopped at 44.49secs.

Olive Clarke - pictured below right - was next to go, also on her second mount, the gorgeously handsome Spitfield, owned by John Melia and they took it very easy, with the horse giving every fence feet of air coming through the finish flags with everything standing but a single time fault added to the score.