SUNDAY’S Speed Championship was won by Sweden’s Angelie Von Essen and Tiger. The duo posted a time of 70.83 in the one-round, 25-rider competition.

The first clear round of the class came from Ireland’s Greg Broderick and Westbrook. They left all the fences intact and stopped the clock in 71.36 for eventual fourth place. Three horses later, Anthony Condon and Zira V Kapelhof Z were clear and managed to slice half a second off Broderick’s time in 71.05 for third place.

Essen and her 15-year-old gelding were ninth to go and stayed just under the 71-second mark in 70.83 to secure victory. Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat came closest to catching Essen when he and Victorio Des Frotards crossed the finish line in 70.96 for second place.

Speaking after the class, Essen told The Irish Field: “My tactics heading into the class today were just to go as fast as I could and give it a really good go. My horse is great and I knew he was really fast, so I thought this competition would suit him so we tried hard.

“Myself and my partner James (Davenport) have had this horse since he was seven years old and he is now 16 so we know him well. James normally rides him, so I think that’s why he’s so quick. I’m just borrowing him for this show.

“This is my third time at the Dublin Show and I love it. The course today was a long and quite twisty course and I thought this is going to be tough.

“There were so many talented riders in the class, I think I was very lucky over the double of ditches and I think that I made up good time over the final four fences, I was quite quick there. I managed to turn quite quick to the second last fence and that helped. I’m delighted with the win and am really enjoying the show,” Essen added.