IRELAND’S James Chawke was on form at the three-star Summer Fort Welcome show at Thunderbird Show Park in British Columbia over the weekend, where he dominated the podium in the $75,000 Grand Prix. Chawke won the class on board Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z and also took third place with Nacara Van Berkenbroeck Z. The pair were only separated by Charlie Jones (GBR) on Capitale 6.

Chawke and Nacara Van Berkenbroeck Z (40.94) set the time to beat as first in for the 14-horse jump-off, but when Jones sped round with Capitale 6, he became the new leader in 40.46.

“I thought I was fairly fast with [Nacara],” Chawke said after his first round. “I probably did one too many [strides] between one, two, and three. I knew I was a little bit wider there on him, but he’s also quite quick across the ground because he doesn’t have an overly big stride. I hoped that would be enough to be first or second, but Charlie changed that.”

Chawke was last to go on Daido Van’t Ruytershof Z and blazed round to finish in 40.37. “She’s just becoming a better and better horse. She’s getting scopier and more rideable. Honestly, I think she can jump bigger. I wasn’t even sure she’d jump three-stars when I got her,” he said of his mount.

Chawke had already taken a number of placings at the show, including a one-two in the three-star $31,100 1.50m qualifier on Friday, winning with Nacara Van Berkenbroeck Z and placing second with Daido Van’T Ruytershof Z.

Chawke has taken the West Coast by storm, winning 10 classes at tbird in 2024 and, judging by his form, he has no plans for that to change in 2025.