BRITISH rider Georgie Spence landed a career first international victory when she led a trio of British lady riders to fill all the podium places in the drama-filled Noel C Duggan Engineering CCI3*.

Wiltshire-based Spence, who rode the Irish-bred Halltown Harley, opened in sixth spot on the flat before steadily forging her way through the field. Leading on the final day, she was the only rider to retain her opening score (34.00) and was completely overwhelmed at the result.

“He’s not always the most talented but he tries every step of the way,” she said of the Michael Ryan-bred son of Harlequin du Carel. “He was on his minute markers everywhere, I just couldn’t fault him.”

The 12-year-old Halltown Harley is out of the prolific broodmare Cummer Beauty (Clover Hill) and, a half sibling to a raft of good horses, was formerly show jumped here by Alexander Butler. He was then snapped up by Vere Phillips, before he was introduced to eventing by New Zealand international Caroline Powell and then bought for Spence two years ago.

In her customary fashion, it was WEG-bound Ros Canter who held the dressage advantage, but picking up some costly time faults, she slipped to second (38.10) with the long format debutante No Excuse. The German-bred gelding also lowered a rail on the final day, but still maintained his advantage over third-placed Sophie Brown riding Wil.

Ireland was represented by Aidan Keogh, Aoife Clark and Cathal Daniels who, heading into the country, had respectively filled second, fourth and 15th placings. Keogh had produced a wonderful test with the second-ranked Pride of Tredstep, but his challenge unravelled when the mare glanced off at the second of the EPS corners (15b).

HEAVY FALL

Sadly, she went on to unship her rider at the Fernhill Fort (17b), while Aoife Clark and Master Rory looked almost home and hosed before they took a ducking in the final water three from home. It was a heavy fall for the WEG-bound Clark, who said afterwards: “He just seemed to stumble, and having looked at the video I don’t think I would have done anything different.”

Cathal Daniels was also going strongly with OLS Back Chat, but having jumped the widest part of the brush corner (19), and crumpled on landing, the young gelding was confused as to which line to take and Daniels opted to call it a day.

Although very similar to that of 12 months ago, the track produced further drama, much of it centred around the Irish Bank (6abc). While it caused very few problems for Irish riders, overseas visitors approached it with caution, as well as a variety of styles and speed.

Among them, and now well aired on social media, Australia’s Sam Griffiths sprawled spectacularly with the Irish-bred Paulank Kings River, and was saved only by the geldings fifth leg and genuine attitude.

Another Irish-bred son of Harlequin du Carel to stand out was Fiona Cashel’s Kilcannon Harley Cruise. The pair recorded the sole clear round within the time, but unfortunately did not present on Sunday morning.