BALMORAL Show included six CSI2* international competitions and boasted a prize fund of over €55,000.

The first of the international classes on Wednesday was the 1.35m Top Spec International Speed with 37 combinations battling it out. The standard was high with 24 keeping clean sheets.

Time could be made up throughout the course, but for those with a win in mind, a good turn from fence four back to the double at five was essential. A tight line from the vertical at seven back to the double at eight was a necessary manoeuvre, as was the gallop home over the oxer to the vertical.

Taking this victory was British-based Waterford rider Anthony Condon and LMD Marko, clear in 51.85. Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Smyth wasted no time with Mulvin Lights Out, stopping the clock in 53.35 for second ahead of British visitor Joe Fernyhough, who was less than a second behind with Calcourt Countdown in 54.28.

Speed merchant against the clock, Sven Joseph Hadley and Maximum Numero Too HSH came home in 54.69 for eventual fourth. Kilkenny rider Tim Brennan slotted into fifth with Diadema Della Caccia (55.71), while in sixth was Harrison Blair and l’Esprit Hero Z, crossing the line in 56.14.

British win

There was a large contingent of British riders at Balmoral and they made their presence felt in Wednesday’s 1.45m Clive Richardson Limited International Stakes, filling the top four places.

From the 39 starters, seven double clears were delivered. Taking victory was Nothern Ireland-based Sameh El Dahan with Joanne Sloan Allen’s Irish Sport Horse WKD Toronto (Tornesch 1042 x Carnaval Drum), bred by Joanne’s father Joe Sloan. They clocked the winning time of 38.21.

Sam El Dahan and WKD Toronto won the CLR International stakes at Balmoral \ Anne Hughes

Little stood between the next two, as James Whitaker and Just Call Me Henry crossed the line in 38.34 ahead of in-from Joe Fernyhough with Calcourt Particle (38.79). Simon Buckley was hot on Fernyhough’s heels aboard Millfield Hickson, but their time of 40.10 saw them slot into fourth place.

James Brennan was best of the Irish taking fifth with the Thomas Brennan-bred MHS I’m The One (Lancelot x Cavalier Royale) in a time of 40.15, while Tim Brennan and Coblue PS took sixth when they stopped the clock in 40.72.

Wood double

On Thursday, British riders struck again with Harry Wood claiming victory in the 1.35m Table C MCL Group International Speed Challenge. Riding Steven Smith’s 11-year-old gelding Casino’s Boom, Wood came home penalty-free in a time of 60.11 seconds. The young rider is based at Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables in Thurles.

James Brennan came closest to catching Wood aboard MHS I’m The One, lodging a clear in 61.35. A clear from Harrison Blair with Eamon Bishop’s l’Esprit Hero Z (by Lexicon, bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry) in 64.81 saw them secure third place.

Ireland’s Tabitha Kyle has certainly been making her presence felt on Irish soil since arriving at Ballypatrick Stables and she featured in this line-up when taking fourth with the G International-owned Haifa OL in 66.13 seconds (which include a fence down). Katie McEntee delivered a clear round with Susan Fitzpatrick’s Keatingstown Mister Cool in a time of 67.06 for fifth, ahead of John McEntee and Lejeune clear in 67.56.

Wood doubled up on Friday when scoring victory in the 1.35m ClipMyHorse.TV International Accumulator. Nine of the starting 25 recorded the maximum score of 65 and Wood landed victory once again on Casino’s Boom, when they put in a blistering pace and crossed the line in 48.31.

Joe Fernyhough and Calcourt Countdown was almost two seconds behind, clocking 50.05. Katie McEntee and Hector de Kezeg stopped the clock in 51.22 for third, ahead of Jessica Burke and Seapatrick Toulon (Toulon x Clinton) in a time of 51.67. Fifth place belonged to Harrison Blair and l’Esprit Hero Z after they came home in 51.69 ahead of Niamh McEvoy and Daliradas Boy in 53.32.

Hughes Kennedy success

No stranger to success in Balmoral, having previously won the Grand Prix in 2023, Kilkenny’s Seamus Hughes Kennedy returned to the winner’s enclosure on Thursday to claim victory in the 1.40m Connolly’s Red Mills International Spectacular.

Riding The Racecourse Farm-owned Dure de Semily, he was fastest of only four double clears in 36.90. Bred by Paul Grindrod, the eight-year-old AES gelding is by Diamant de Semilly out of the Oklund mare Aranka.

Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Dure de Semily winning the Connolly Red Mills International Spectacular at Balmoral \ Anne Hughes

In total, 29 combinations battled it out and eight booked their place in the timed round. John McEntee added to his record as he partnered Sandra Duffy’s CSF Andrew (Dakar VDL x Prince De Vaux), bred by Patrick Connolly, to a clear just fractions slower than the winner in 36.97.

Molly Hughes Bravo and HHS Ice Flo (Iceman de Muze x Cyrano 145) also kept the poles standing in a time of 37.26 for third place. British rider Rebecca Marsh came home with nothing to add aboard Izara des Dames in 41.49 for eventual fourth. Commandant Geoff Curran had no problem bettering the winning time with DHS Alliance (Douglas x Lux Z) - but it cost him, as he had one down in 36.40 for fifth place.

After four placings, Joe Fernyhough was crowned the leading international rider on 19 points, ahead of Harry Wood who finished on 16 points.