JAMES Chawke, who hails from Abbeyleix in Co Laois, had an emphatic win at the Split Rock Jumping Tour at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California over the weekend. Chawke and his very consistent mount Daido van’t Ruytershof Z came out on top of the 57-strong three-star $35,000 1.45m speed class on Thursday night, with a clear round in a very fast time of 60.16. The pair’s nearest challenger was Callie Schott (USA) on Garant, whose time of 62.95 was a huge 2.79 seconds behind for second place.

Chawke placed fifth from a start list of 41 in Friday’s three-star $35,000 1.45m Welcome jump-off class riding Nacara Van Berkenbroeck Z. The Irish representatives were among just eight to proceed to the jump-off, where four of them were able to jump clear again. In their quest for speed, Chawke and his mount incurred four faults, which put them in fifth place. The class was won by an in-form Schott (USA) and Garant.

Sunday saw the three-star $125,000 1.50m Grand Prix being held, which attracted 38 starters. Chawke and Daido van’t Ruytershof Z were unlucky to pick up four faults in the first round, which ruled them out of the jump-off and put them in 11th place.

The win went to Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts on Gadget Mouche with a double clear in a super jump-off time of 36.01, which was almost three seconds ahead of runner-up Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) on Scoop De Septon Z in 38.77.