THE concluding 1.55m Leading Show jumper of the Year class at the Horse of the Year Show on Sunday evening was a great reflection on the Irish show jumpers in attendance at the NEC in Birmingham. Not only did Tipperary’s Trevor Breen and the nine-year-old gelding Kannoon Blue jump the only double clear (in 39.10 seconds) to win the class and €18,744 in prize money, but Jessica Burke took seventh place riding Seapatrick Toulon (ISH) (Toulon x Roundthorn Delaney by Heartbreaker, bred by Barry McCann) and young rider Niamh McEvoy rounded out the top 10 with Olympic GL FVD.

There were 31 starters in the class, with the best eight (six first-round clears and the two fastest four-faulters) proceeding to jump again. Breen’s closest challenger was Alexander McLean (GBR) on Gino F, who finished on four faults in 37.30 to place second, just ahead of Robert Whitaker (GBR) on Vermento in third (4/38.79).

This win comes only 17 months after Breen’s fall at the Hamburg Grand Prix, which resulted in him sustaining fractures to his lower neck and back. His determination and consistency have seen some great results for him and his talented horses recently.

“Kannoon Blue is a phenomenal horse. He is home-bred, and this guy is really coming of age this year. He is just getting better and better,” Trevor commented afterwards.

“This year has been a phenomenal year. I couldn’t have dreamt of it when I was lying in the hospital bed in Hamburg. Huge thanks to my team - my family, my owners and staff at home. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to come back.”

On form

HOYS kicked off in Birmingham last Wednesday, with international show jumping gracing the busy schedule from Friday until Sunday.

Breen didn’t waste any time and finished in the top five in the first international class, the Grandstand Welcome Stakes 1.45m two-phase special, when he rode ABC Cortana Cruise into fifth place, with a double clear round in a second phase time of 33.20. Christopher Smith (GBR) on Messarado Blue took the win in 31.26. McEvoy and BE Kentucky placed seventh (33.69), while Burke placed 10th in the class with Good Star Du Bary (36.17).

There were another three Irish in the top 10 of The Evoke Stakes 1.45m speed class, with Anthony Condon claiming third with LMD Marko (ISH) (Goodluck VDL x Urbella by Baloubet Du Rouet, bred by Larry McDermott in Co Galway) in a time of 53.91; while Breen placed seventh with Konrad Obolensky (55.75) and Burke finished ninth with Romelus De Muze (58.22).

The NAEC Stoneleigh 1.45m Accumulator on Saturday saw Burke place fifth on Seapatrick Toulon in a time of 51.68, while McEvoy rode Olympic GL FVD into seventh place (52.24).

Burke was back in the top five again in The Rees Family Cup 1.50m jump-off class when fourth with Good Star Du Bary with a double clear in a jump-off time of 34.96. Condon placed eighth with Casago Du Rouet PS (36.02).

The Ripon Select Foods 1.80m Puissance saw Sven Joseph Hadley and Derek McCoppin placing joint seventh riding Brandonview First Edition and Explosief’s Legacy respectively, when they each faulted in the second jump-off.

Sunday’s 1.45m Speed Horse of the Year class saw Burke and Romelus De Muze place 10th when clear in 66.62.

Hadley was back in the ribbons in the Thistledown Investments 1.70m Six Bar class, finishing joint sixth on board Phenomene Bleu VDM.