DOWN’S Conor Swail certainly rode every stride on board My Lady Lavista when the pair won the Ride Every Stride $46,000 1.45m FEI Opener at Caledon Equestrian Park in Ontario, Canada last Friday. Faring best of the 18 starters in the class, Swail was among 13 combinations who proceeded to the jump-off, five of whom managed to jump double clear. Stopping the jump-off clock in 41.75, Swail finished marginally ahead of Kama Godek (USA) on Charissa in second (41.92).

On Saturday, Swail claimed both fourth and eighth places in the $46,000 1.45m FEI Grand Prix on My Lady Lavista and Theo 160 respectively. There were only two double clear rounds in the class, where just 12 combinations went to post, with Canadians, Susan Horn on Chacca Keeps II in first place and Nicole Walker on Excellent B in second. Swail and Vanderbilt Key Z placed 10th in the $2,500 1.25m open class at Caledon last Thursday.

Tryon

Meanwhile, at Tryon International in North Carolina, Irish riders were also on top form, with four in the top 10 of the two-star $70,000 Grand Prix. David Blake led the charge when rightfully taking the top spot on board Cornwall BH, jumping the only double clear in the class from a start list of 32. Richie Moloney was next best of the Irish in fourth place with Daisycutter, when picking up four faults in the jump-off, while Blake rode Conblue into sixth place after a single time penalty in round one prevented them from jumping again. Michael Hutchinson finished in 10th place with Labaomi W.

Blake placed fourth with Conblue in last Wednesday’s $6,000 1.40m two-phase class, followed by Ciaran Flynn on Calvin Harris 3 in sixth place.

Thursday’s $32,000 Welcome Stake class saw Flynn finish as runner-up on board Calvin Harris 3, with Richie Moloney on Daisycutter behind in eighth.

The $6,000 1.45m speed stake class on Friday saw Blake place fifth with J.Diago, when clocking the fastest time in the class, but picking up an unfortunate four faults in the process.