RUNNING on the same dates at the Dublin Horse Show, the number of Irish riders competing at the Longines Global Champions Tour in London was fewer than usual, however the show, held at the iconic venue of the Royal Hospital Chelsea threw up some memorable moments.

None more so than Pieter Devos’ win in Saturday night’s Grand Prix which secured his golden ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague at the end of the year. The Belgian was among six clears in the first round and set the standard when third to go against the clock, breaking the beams in 36.92 seconds to earn €100,000.

His compatriot Olivier Phillippaerts finished second with H&M Miro but could have clinched victory if he hasn’t added an extra stride to the final fence, his eventual time being 37.20. Dutchman Jur Vrieling finish third witl Comme-Laude W (0/0 38.71), ahead of Britain’s Ellen Whitaker who trilled the home crowd with a great clear aboard Equine America Spacecake.

A beaming Devos said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling, especially with Mom’s Toupie de la Roque, she did everything today for me. I felt it has been a long time coming that I would do a good result with her and now the cherry on the cake to win, so I’m very, very happy.

“It’s an unbelievable crowd, you feel when you go in the people are really supporting you and I thank them a lot to also support me and think it was a great show and competition. I risked it all because I walked the course and I thought that it was always nine, and I saw Edwina and she had to hold a bit on nine so I then have a huge stride so I knew I could do the eight. So I came over the vertical and just thought about going forward and nothing else.”

Commenting on his golden ticket Devos said: “I was really hoping for it, we are almost at the end of the season and it is always a fantastic competition and I am really, really happy to be part of it again. Today, Scott still had to come so I thought ok, it would be for him but luck was on my side, I’m happy – very happy.”

Pieter Devos has shot back up to second on 198 points on the overall ranking as the Championship accelerates to the season finale, with the potential to realise his hope of securing a title Devos will now be at full gas for the rest of the season. Christian Ahlmann still leads with 216 while Ben Maher drops to third on 182 points.

Irish placed

Ballina’s Michael G. Duffy was runner-up in Sunday’s five-star 1.45m Table A at the venue. He guided the 10-year-old gelding Borelli T to a clear round in 57.40 to pick up €5,100. Victory went to Belgium’s Gilles Thomas with Feromas van Beek Z (0/ 57.32).

Duffy and Borelli T were fourth in Friday’s 1.45m when double clear in 25.89 seconds. His namesake, Galway’s Michael Duffy slotted into seventh place with Franklin in 27.59 seconds. The winner was Sweden’s Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli with Danna RJ (0/0 25.06).

Wins for Byrne and Gredley

Longford’s Aisling Byrne won the opening one-star class at the show, the 1.15m two-phase special aboard her 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Wellview Lucy (Wellview Cedric x Maltstriker), who was bred by Pat Williams.

She posted a clear round against the clock in 29.34 seconds to beat fellow county woman Rachel Gredley (née Wyse) into to second place with Jalanna (0/ 29/75). Gredley and Jalanna then went on to win Saturday’s 1.15m Table A when clear in a time of 55.56 seconds. Byrne finished seventh on Wellview Lucy and Gredley also picked up eighth place with Hobalo.