Ireland's Shane Breen drove away in a new Mercedes convertible having been crowned leading international rider at the weekend's five-star show in Valence, France.
The Tipperary native posted some excellent results during the four-day show including a win in Saturday’s featured 1.50m speed class on the nine-year-old stallion Ipswich van de Wolfsakker and a second place finish in Sunday’s 1.60m Grand Prix. Then, riding the 10-year-old stallion Laith, Breen looked home and hosed when recording a second round clear in 36.40 only for the USA’s Kent Farrington, who was second-last to jump, to leave all the poles intact in 35.32 with Gazelle.
At home, Tholm Keane won Sunday's TRM/Horseware New Heights champions series Grand Prix at The Meadows Equestrian Centre outside Lurgan with the only double clear on James Buckley and Caroline Teltsch's BMH Big Time.
At the same venue, Mikey Pender landed two of the final legs of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook show jumping series for young horses.
In the class for seven-year-olds, Pender recorded the fastest double clear on the Miguel Bravo-owned and bred HHS Washington, a grey gelding by Tinaranas Inspector out of the Cavalier Royale mare Cadiz, while his winning mount in the five-year-old final was Marion Hughes’s Forty Roses, a mare by Heritage Fortunus out of the Ramiro B mare HHS Diamond Exchange.
There was only one clear in the six-year-old final that coming Hannah Patterson abroad her own Volt Star, a mare by Lancelot out of Volitol (by Lux Z) which was bred by Deirdre Bourns. .
When it came to the results of the league there was a double for owner Gabriel Slattery and rider Jessica Burke through the five-year-old Miss Jilly, a mare by Captain Clover out of Princess Rooskey (by Ginger Holly) who was bred by Tony Foody, and the Elizabeth Gallagher-bred Castlelawn Captain Junior, a six-year-old stallion by Captain Clover out of the Diamond Lad mare Diroe.
Having won three legs of the series, Ger O’Neill claimed the seven-year-old league with his own and Martin Egan’s Cassino gelding Castlefield Vegas which was bred by John Clarke out of Clarkes Quiet Optimistic, by Lux Z.
