INTERNATIONAL show jumping came to an exciting close on Friday with glorious sunshine setting the stage for the highly anticipated CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix. With a strong field of competitors declared, the feature class, which was sponsored by the CAB Group and Dunlop Homes International and supported by Bottlegreen was wide open with a host of top Irish riders from home and abroad joined by overseas competitors.

In the end, it was Galway’s Jessica Burke - making the trip from her base at Arion Stud in Hampshire, England - who claimed victory and the top prize of €9,900 with Liam Nicholas’ home-bred Express Trend, a 15-year-old gelding by Future Trend out of the Condios mare Condios Express.

Speaking after the win, Burke said: “I am delighted for the horse as he is 15 now. He is an Irish-bred and he grew up here and to come home and win a Grand Prix is what I wanted to do but it’s another thing to actually pull it off.”

Regarding her tactics over the course, Burke said: “It was a good jump-off because it was all numbers and I studied it a lot; a lot of them went very wide on the turns and it was a big difference in the number of strides so I tried to do eight strides from one to two, and eight to the double and nine back vertical and eight again. I actually added a stride to the blue oxer because I just felt like he needed a breather and then I stuck to my numbers and I was a bit lucky at the last. In such a big ring, not losing time on the turns plays a big part.”

In total, 35 combinations battled it out and 17 booked their place against the clock. A big contingent of British riders travelled to Balmoral and that was evident by nine in the jump-off, while eight Irish riders made up the rest.

Up to height

Course designer Colm Quinn built a fair course, up to height with no particular fence causing any problems. In the jump-off, time was to be made up from the start with a vertical, left-handed back to the oxer and then on to the double.

First to go against the clock, Irish-based British rider Harry Wood and BP Limitless (Elvis Ter Putte x Laughton’s Flight) proved out of luck when they faulted at the Ulster Bank oxer and crossed the line in a time of 44.87, which kept them out of the top 10.

Nations Cup rider Jodie Hall McAteer (GBR) and La Gupardie were next to take it on, but four faults in a time of 46.04 ruled her out of contention. The first double clear came from Britain’s Joe Fernyhough and Calcourt Particle in 43.73 to put it up to the rest.

Ireland’s Jack Ryan was next in and also proved out of luck when he finished on four faults with Calgrafi Dwb, but a fast time of 41.23 saw the Kilkenny rider take 10th place. Rebecca March (GBR) followed with Stevie G and kept the poles in place in a time 43.85 to slot into second at the time and eventually finish fifth.

Next up Simon Buckley (GBR) also kept the poles in place with Millfield Hickson, but was no threat to the leader as he came home in the slower time of 44.63 and later took seventh place.

Clear round

Waterford native Anthony Condon made the trip from Britain for Balmoral and was the first of the Irish riders to deliver a clear with Oviedo S in a time of 45.74 for eventual eighth place. Next to go, event rider turned show jumper Cathal Daniels faulted at the second fence with CDS Cappog Tomy to keep him out of the running.

Adrian Whiteway (GBR) and BP Baxter (Elvis Ter Putte x Pacino) put in a gallant attempt as they came home in 44.29 for sixth place. Britain were represented again by James Whitaker, who took a very tight line from one to two with Just Call Me Henry and a strong pace saw him clock 41.59 to take the lead and later third place.

Defending champion Francis Derwin had his eye on the win and he kept it tight with Flexi K as they galloped home with nothing to add in 41.41 to take the lead and it looked hard to beat. However, next to go was Jessica Burke, who put in a calculated round with Express Trend and set the winning time of 40.36 and in the process demoted Derwin to second place.

Four followed, but none could catch Burke. James Brennan and MHS I’m the One faulted at 4a and crossed the line in 40.79 for ninth place. Another Ballypatrick-based competitor, who recently switched to ride for Ireland is Tabitha Kyle and she finished with 12 faults in a time of 38.95 aboard BP Goodfellas (Stakkato Gold x OBOS Quality).

Annabel Shields (GBR) and Creevagh Carisma faulted at the first part of the double and then later in the course, finishing on eight faults in 45.03. Last competitor in, Rachel Proudley (GBR) and Nera D Champs FT hit the second fence and crossed the line in 44.38.