THERE were 50 combinations on the start list for Sunday’s five-star 1.60m Grand Prix at Fontainebleau in France, with some of the best-known names in show jumping taking part. Just 11 of the starters jumped clear in the first round to secure their chance to jump again. Six managed a second clear round, among them were two Irish riders – Wexford’s Bertram Allen, who rode the nine-year-old gelding Qonquest De Rigo into fifth place (41.83) and Meath’s Cian O’Connor, who rode the 12-year-old gelding Iron Man into sixth (42.51).

Brazil’s Yuri Mansur won the class and the €50,000 first prize on board Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm in the fastest time of 41.52, with the remaining podium positions going to Belgian riders Gregory Wathelet on Hay’s Jamesbond Bond (41.58) and Gilles Thomas on Kalone Hermitage (41.67). In a very close finish, the top six finished within one second of each other.

Placings

Show jumping at the Spring of Equestrian Sports show at Fontainebleau began last Wednesday, April 23rd, with Kildare’s Michael Pender being among the joint winners of the one-star seven-year-old 1.30m class jumping clear on both HHS Othello and HHS Flonix, while Cian O’Connor was among the winners in the eight-year-old 1.35m class with Unforgetable Z.

Friday’s five-star 1.45m special two-phase class saw 57 combinations line up, with 28 of them keeping the fences intact. The class was won by the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare My Clementine (OBOS Quality (OLD) x Qualisca de Vansichant (SBS) by Kashmir Van Schuttershof (SBS)), bred by David Prentice, ridden by Nina Mallevaey (FRA). The pair stopped the clock in 29.21.

Pender was the best of the Irish here when finishing sixth with the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HHS Cyprus (Cornet Obolensky (BWP) x HHS Acorado (ISH) by Acorado (Holst)), bred by Marion Hughes in Co Kilkenny, just half a second behind (29.71), followed by O’Connor on Genghis Kann of London in eighth (29.87).

Pender finished just off the podium in Saturday’s 52-strong five-star 1.50m speed class, when placing fourth with HHS Cyprus (63.08). The class was won by Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano on Vasco 118 (60.50).