IRISH riders left a good impression at the five-star international show jumping fixture at Dinard in France, which ran from Thursday, July 24th until Sunday, July 27th. The opening day saw Ireland’s Aisling Byrne and Celeste SPB Z finishing third in the one-star 1.10m Special two-phase class, jumping clear in 33.54.

Daydream got off to a pleasing start at five-star level with Daniel Coyle in the five-star 1.45m Special two-phase class, placing sixth from a start list of 77. Coyle and the nine-year-old mare jumped clear in 38.32 to take home just over €1,500 in prize money, while class winner Steve Guerdat (SUI) on Looping Luna took first place and just over €7,000 in a time of 35.45. Coyle also placed 10th in the class with Incredible (39.14).

Denis Lynch and Shogun STS was a joint winner of the one-star Young Horse 1.30m class, while Jenny Rankin and Ibiza finished ninth in the three-star 1.40m speed class.

On Friday, Byrne and Celeste SPB Z placed sixth in the one-star 1.15m speed class, while Lynch and King Blue finished on the podium in the five-star 1.45m speed class, when recording a third place with a clear round in 65.15. The class was won by Henrik von Eckermann on Glamour Girl, less than a second ahead in a time of 64.32, with Ignacio Maurin (ARG) on Chacco-Conno PS in second (64.54).

Meanwhile, Lynch and Shogun STS placed sixth in the day’s one-star 1.35m speed class, jumping clear in 66.26. French rider Gwenole Le Guen on Illiz de Plabenn was the decisive winner in a super-fast time of 60.04, more than four seconds ahead of runner-up Marie Demonte (FRA) on Iolina of Riverland (64.42).

Saturday started well for Byrne and Celeste SPB Z when they won the one-star 1.15m jump-off class, with a double clear in a jump-off time of 40.44.

Coyle secured another top-five finish with Daydream, when the pair placed fourth in the five-star 1.50m speed class, jumping clear in 62.72. Richard Vogel (GER) on Cubi Cubells won the class in 61.51.

Byrne concluded what was a great show for her with a fourth place in Sunday’s one-star 1.40m jump-off class on board Cnoc Rua Chinook. Only three of the 18 starters made it through to the jump-off, with Byrne being fastest of the four-faulters.