It just made sense that Ireland's Paul O'Shea would win the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale on a weekend leading up to St. Patrick's Day.
But it certainly wasn't about luck at the TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City on Saturday.
O'Shea guided Spy around the Lakeside Arena course with relative ease.
The field included horse-and-rider combinations from seven nations, but it was O'Shea who dominated. He produced clear runs in both his first effort and the jump-off. Erica Hatfield is the owner of Spy while David Troncanetti is the trainer.
Canada's Mario Deslauriers was second aboard Inside of My Heart. Ireland's Darragh Kenny was third on Lightning.
Ireland's Paul O'Shea gives Spy a congratulatory pat after a clean run in the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale at TerraNova Saturday. O'Shea won the championship of the $100,000 event.
Photo by Jay Heater
J.Diago looks to have fallen out of the sky after cleaning a jump with Ireland's David Blake.
Photo by Jay Heater
Isabel Coxe of the U.S. and Incredible Bleu go into another series of jumps during the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale at TerraNova on Saturday.
Photo by Jay Heater
Israel's Daniel Bluman begins his run aboard Hummer Z on Saturday at TerraNova during the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bliss Heers aboard Petit makes a turn to begin the jumps in front of the pavilion at the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale at TerraNova.
Photo by Jay Heater
Ireland's Darragh Kenny and Lightning showcase the beauty of jumping at TerraNova. Kenny finished third in the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale.
Photo by Jay Heater
Daniel Bluman of Israel and Hummer Z are coming right at a jump at TerraNova in the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale Saturday.
Photo by Jay Heater
Daniel Bluman of Israel is sitting chilly aboard Hummer Z as they tackle the TerraNova Lakeside course.
Photo by Jay Heater
David Blake of Ireland has his eyes on the prize as he takes a jump aboard J.Diago during the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale at TerraNova.
Photo by Jay Heater
David Blake of Ireland holds J. Diago tight as they clear a hurdle at TerraNova.
Photo by Jay Heater
Maggie Jacobs of the U.S. and Fury both had their hair done for the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale at TerraNova in Myakka City.
Photo by Jay Heater
Maggie Jacobs of the U.S. and Fury clear a hurdle on Saturday at TerraNova.
Photo by Jay Heater
Fury does a little prancing during the run with Maggie Jacobs of the U.S.
Photo by Jay Heater
Paul O'Shea of Ireland and Spy take a jump in the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale on Saturday. The pair won the title.
Photo by Jay Heater
Myakka City's Maslin Rae sings the National Anthem to open the Split Rock Jumping Tour Finale at TerraNova.
Photo by Jay Heater
Willow Anne Peterson and Melbourne Z could be future Split Rock Jumping Tour competitors.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
