The in-form Daniel Coyle won Friday's feature class in Spruce Meadows, Canada riding Susan and Ariel Grange's 11-year-old mare Cita.
The combination, who have been shortlisted by Horse Sport Ireland’s show jumping team manager Rodrigo Pessoa for August’s European show jumping championships in Sweden, were one of 18 to go through to the second round of the Scotiabank Cup, a 1.55m competition.
In round two, 11 riders recorded a double clear, Coyle’s coming in a time of 37.79 which proved unbeatable. Egypt’s Sameh El Dahan, who is based in Ballyclare, Co Antrim, finished second on Joanne Sloan Allen’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Sumas Zorro (39.08) with the USA’s Ashlee Bond in third with Chela LS (39.66).
Earlier in the day in Europe, Tipperary native Trevor Breen landed the Puissance at the Bolesworth International show in Liverpool when clearing the wall at its final height of 2.15m with Millie Mason's Lord Luidam. Co Antrim's Chris Megahey finished second with his Puissance specialist, the ISH gelding Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier.
Managed by James Kernan, two Irish underage teams finished second in their respective Nations’ Cup competitions at Hagen in Germany.
The Young Rider team (Under 21), which comprised Jonathan Smyth (Charlton Clio), Sofie Slattery (Valentine du Bois Pinchet), Lucinda Roche (WCE Falco) and Hannah Patterson (Daberlina M), completed their two rounds on 21 faults which left them sharing second place with Denmark as Italy won on a score of 18. Nine teams started.
In the 12-team Junior Nations’ Cup, won by Italy on a score of zero, Ireland finished on a total of eight as did Germany and France. The Irish quartet were Cormac Foley (Ballylynch Wizard), Mackenzie Healy (Quick Jack), Patrick Hickey (Quandurina) and Jessica Kuehnle (Chrysander).
Kernan paid tribute to a superb effort by both Irish teams: “I am so proud of our riders, I couldn’t be happier. The Young Rider course here today was Championship level, 1.50m/1.55m, and to come here to Germany - the home of show jumping, and push the home team off the podium is an incredible achievement.
“Two of our riders, Hannah and Jonathan, never jumped on an Irish team outside of Ireland before today and all our riders deserve unbelievable credit for what they achieved. We were the fighting Irish today, coming back from fifth place at halfway to finish joint second.
“Our Junior team were outstanding and they all rode brilliantly to also finish second in a really tough competition. I firmly believe we have the best riders in the world. I am delighted for each and every one of them.”
At home this weekend, the main show jumping action is taking place at the Galway County Show in Claregalway with RDS amateur qualifiers being staged in Ennis, Co Clare. There are two national one-day events at Glaslough, Co Monaghan (Saturday) and Annaharvey, Co Westmeath.
Also this weekend, the Irish Pony Club is staging the IPC/Holmestead Saddlery national minimus championships in Co Kildare where just over 400 members under 12 will compete in cross-country riding (Saturday), swimming (Sunday) and running (Sunday). The ride and running phases are taking place at Punchestown racecourse, the participants travelling to Athy on Sunday morning for their swim.
