CLARE’S David Blake finished on the podium in the $65,000 two-star Old Salem Grand Prix on Saturday, when he and Max Van De Marijenhoeve (Hermantico x Brunette) jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 37.16 to claim third place.

Old Salem Farm course designer Oscar Soberon came up with a technical 16-effort, 1.45m course to finish the week’s FEI competition. The start list of 33 produced 15 clear first rounds to ensure a jump-off, with 10 combinations managing to remain clear at their second attempt. Blake rode Jill Shulman’s nine-year-old gelding flawlessly and finished less than a second behind the winner, Brian Moggre (USA) on the eight-year-old gelding Johann FS Z, who was among the first to tackle the shortened course and set a time of 36.32, which secured him the $16,250 top prize.

Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire, Blake’s partner, on the 18-year-old gelding Cornwall BH was runner-up in 36.55 and took home $13,000 for her efforts, while Blake pocketed a tidy sum of $9,750 for third.

Super grateful

Winner Moggre said afterwards: “We went early in the order today, and there were a lot of clear rounds. I thought it was a nice course; the first round was just technical enough, without feeling huge. Since this horse is only eight years old, I went in with a plan focusing on what I was willing to do and what was right for him. Maybe in a year’s time, we could do one less stride in the first and the last lines. Given his age and how he’s so naturally quick, it actually worked out for us today.

“I was super grateful for the win, but even if we were second or third, I wouldn’t have changed my ride. It was just right for him and where he’s at now. We’re going to keep him around the 1.45m to 1.50m, move him into some more three-star grands prix, and get him really solid there before we see what else we have. There’s no telling just how much he can do, and I’m excited to find out.”

Success

The two-star Old Salem Summer Jumper Classic ran at Old Salem Farm near New York City from August 19th to 22nd and saw some other Irish success.

On Wednesday, the $1,000 1.35m Open Jumper class saw Blake taking two top-10 placings, when he rode Elton P Z into second place with a clear round in 66.59 seconds and also placed ninth with Conblue in a time of 73.84 seconds.

Blake followed that up with both sixth and eighth places in Thursday’s $750 1.40m Jumper class, riding Elton P Z (60.27) and Conblue (61.25) respectively.

On Friday, fellow Clare native Philip McGuane rode Frimeur D’Altenbach into 10th place in the $500 1.10m Open Jumper class.