Interpreter victorious in HSI/Red Mills Spring Tour 6th Round

Left to right: Chantal Suarez, owner of Portmore Equestrian Centre, Niamh Harding, Jenny Crozier of Red Mills pictured with James Hogg on Interpreter, winner of HSI Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour Round Six at Portmore Equestrian Centre (Photo Credit Grace Lavery Equestrian News NI)

THE sixth round of the Horse Sport Ireland/ Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour at Portmore Equestrian Centre in Co Armagh saw the top prize staying north of the border, as Co Fermanagh rider James Hogg scored a comprehensive victory with Edgar Hogg’s grey gelding Interpreter.

The host venue Portmore Equestrian Centre sponsored the competition with €2,500 on offer and those in attendance were treated to a fantastic competition, but no one went home happier than the winner James Hogg,

“I have to say the course builder (Rafael Suarez) did an excellent job, he gave us three different options to turn inside around the course and I think I might have been the only one to take all three tight turns. The surface at Portmore is just fantastic and the organizers deserve allot of credit for putting on a great show,” he said.

When asked about his mount Interpreter (Crusing x Diamond Rock x Hail Titan(TB),James Hogg went on to say: “He is much stronger in himself this year, he is nine years old now and like all good Irish horses he gets better with age. 

“Interpreter was bred by David O’Brennan from Tullamore in Co Offaly and he has been a winner for me since he was a five years old. His full brother actually won the 1.20m at Portmore on Saturday also. I will take in the Spring Tour round at Cavan next and will see where we go from there”.

Fifteen of the 37 starters made it through to the jump-off and despite a relatively early draw in round two, Hogg had well over three seconds to spare over his nearest challenger at the finish. He did have a nervous moment at the third last oxer, as Interpreter rubbed the back bar, but the pole stayed intact, giving the Ulsterman a well deserved victory in a time of 35.09 seconds.

League leader Conor McEneaney was last to jump with the incredibly consistent eight year old Moonlite Cavalier and although he couldn’t match Hogg’s winning round, a second round clear in 38.66 seconds saw him take runner up at Portmore to extend his lead at the top of the table.

Sven Hadley filled three of the top six places, taking third place with the eight year old bay gelding Quanbell (Quentin x H.2) after a clear round in 40.43, while he also posted a clear jump off round (45.44) with Cassana (OBOS Quality x Hallo) to take fourth.

Hadley picked up four faults against the clock with Cassinitine (Cheers Cassini x Animo Elite) but a time of 40.08 was good enough to finish sixth, just behind junior rider Christopher Megahey who produced an excellent performance to take fifth place with the Lauriston sired Rickamore Royal.

Today (Sunday) the HSI/ Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour moves west to Claremorris in Co Mayo before Ballinamona in Waterford hosts the eighth round of the series on Bank Holiday Monday.

HSI/ Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour  – Top Six Following Portmore

Conor Mc Eneaney   37 Points
Daniel Coyle            27
Thomas O’Brien       24
James Hogg            20
Liam O’Meara          15
Sven Hadley            14

Result – HSI/ Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour – Portmore Equestrian Centre Co Armagh  – Sponsored by Portmore  Equestrian Centre  – 15/03/2014

1st James Hogg/Interpreter 0/0 35.09,
2nd Conor McEneaney/Moonlite Cavalier 0/0 38.66
3rd Sven Hadley/Quanbell 0/0 40.43
4th Sven Hadley/Cassana 0/0 45.44
5th Christopher Megahey/Rickamore Royal 0/4 39.76
6th Sven Hadley/Cassinitine 0/4 40.08
7th Robert Newell/Zinniz Roundthorn 0/4 44.01
8th Barry McCormack/Armani Velvet 0/4 47.46
9th Daniel Coyle/Lady Porschell 0/4 49.91
10th Emily Turkington/Legend 0/4 51.08

37starters
15 into jump -off

Winning Owner – Edgar Hogg
Best Turned Out – Legend (Emily Turkington)
Leading Young Rider – Conor McEneaney

Leading 7&8 year old horse Moonlite Cavalier (Conor McEneaney)