MICHAEL Duffy was in flying form at the third running of the Hickstead National championships, the Galway teenager clinching the final Grand Prix riding Dirk Van Bossel’s Iron Lady III.

As normal jockey Robert Whitaker was busy with other horses, he offered the ride to Duffy who lost no time in forging a great partnership with this 18hh nine-year-old and they never missed a beat to head the 12-strong jump-off.

William Funnell set the early pace with Billy Onslow who posted the first double clear but Duffy made full use of Iron Lady’s massive stride to poach the lead and remain at the head of affairs.

“She’s proving to be a very versatile mare as she has masses of jump clearing two-metres in a six-bar class in France. Although she’s a big horse, she has a huge time-saving stride and we went on two less than anyone from the gate to the planks.

“She’s a real lady at home but in the ring she is very competitive and she’s really come on. Hopefully I’ll have her for a few more weeks,” said Duffy.

By coincidence, William Funnell filled third spot in the Grand Prix with Judge’N’Jury an eight-year-old out of Tammerara, the Cruising mare responsible for producing the 2014 Dublin hunter supreme champion Bloomfield Excelsior.

Also making the Grand Prix line-up were Trevor Breen who finished seventh riding Patricia Brown’s Loughnatousa WB, and the winning rider Michael Duffy also claimed 12th with Westland Ruby.

This event was well-supported throughout and as there were entries of 100 plus in many classes, every class was hard fought.

Duffy got off to a flying start, the 19-year-old winning the second 90 starter 1.40m competition riding Dermot Forde’s Westland Ruby.

“There were plenty of turn backs and that sort of track really suits her. Even in second gear she travels pretty fast across the ground so it is easy to make time up on the open distances,” said Duffy who is now setting up stables at his girlfriend Amy Inglis’ yard just a few miles from Hickstead where he was previously based with Shane Breen.

“We have some horses in already to compete and some liveries and it suits us well as Amy and I share the riding,” concluded Duffy.

Finishing in fourth spot in the 1.40m was Shane Breen and Cosina.

The Hickstead-based rider opened the meeting in terrific style winning the first 1.40m with Calido Bay, Breen adding to his ribbon haul as Farao Van T Vennehof finished 11th.

Breen narrowly missed a first day winning double when Ominerale Courcelle was pipped at the post in the following 1.30m.

This pair produced another classic jump-off round in the Douglas Bunn 1.35m Challenge, but again they were thwarted, this time by Hickstead specialists Harriet Nuttall and Silver Lift.

Irish riders fielded several horses in the British Show jumping talent seekers (incorporating the HOYS seven-year-old championship), Trevor Breen fairing best riding Classic III who earned a HOYS ticket.

Tracy Priest took the major honours riding Market Irminka nd Carristo VDL who claimed the top two places, but a spirited challenge from Breen and Karen Swann’s Classic saw them slot nicely into third place.

Taking fourth spot was Shane Breen with Elwood, and also placed were David Simpson (seventh) with Clear The Way and Michael Duffy (13th) riding Cortina 200.

David Simpson and Caroline Jeanne’s Baby David narrowly missed the top spot in the 1.30m Classic, but despite a spirited challenge by the pair, leaders Emily Hilton and Assy Sina could not be relegated from the top spot.

The 1.30m competitions were among the most hotly contested and Georgie Crumley finished a creditable third behind winner Robert Whitaker and Jahil in one of the best finales.

Also in the line-up was Shane Breen riding Paladin De Laume.

Crumley was also in good form in the young horse classes, Cotoki producing the required double clear to share first place in the four-year-old qualifier, Aoife O’Connor also sharing top spot riding Breen Equestrian Ltd’s Troopers Girl.

O’Connor gained a further placing for Breen Equestrian in the 1.20m amateur qualifier riding Veralina.

There were plenty of opportunities for riders to bring young horses on as the programme included classes for every age and level.

David Simpson and Shane Breen were in the money in one of the five-year-old qualifiers, Simpson finishing ninth with Keoki while Breen and Jandin Van De Moeren claimed 10th place.

Irish riders fought out the finish in the six and seven-year-old championship, Trevor Breen leading the way riding Classic II.

“It’s been a good week, all the horses have gone very well. It’s great to win at Hickstead again and I’m really pleased to have qualified Classic for HOYS,” concluded Breen who of course won the thrilling Hickstead Derby riding Adventure De Kannan just a couple of months earlier.

Finishing runner up in the six and seven-year-old championship was David Simpson riding Dakar RS.

Other riders having a busy week were Brian Cassidy, Mark Dorgan and Caitriona Redmond who finished fifth in the novice championship qualifier riding Breen Equestrian’s Harlequin Pearl.

Meanwhile, Hertfordshire-based Kerryman Padraig Hayes was second in the Horse & Hound Foxhunter at Brook Farm in Essex on Wednesday riding Mrs Carole DeCaux’s stallion Twin (Lux/Voltaire).