MEATH’S Cian O’Connor came out on top of the 61-strong five-star 1.55m Grand Prix qualifier at Hamburg on Thursday, riding the 10-year-old gelding Genghis Khan to a double clear round in a time of 45.20. Switzerland’s Edouard Schmitz had held the lead with Gamin van’t Naastveldhof when stopping the clock in 45.47, but O’Connor managed to edge ahead to secure the top prize of €20,000. Max Wachman and Tipperary took eighth place as the fastest four-faulters in round two.

The five-star Deutsches Spring- und Dressur-Derby fixture was held at Hamburg, Germany last week, with a number of Irish riders taking part in four and five-star classes.

On Wednesday, there was a runner-up finish for Commandant Geoff Curran in the four-star Classic Tour 1.40m two-phase opening class, on board the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare DHF Alliance, bred by Paul Douglas.

This was soon followed up by Derry’s David Simpson, when he also took the runner-up spot in the four-star Al Shira’aa Derby Tour 1.45m speed class with Pjotr van de Kruishoeve. Alexander Butler placed eighth with Django Hero Z.

Win for Wachman

Tom Wachman went one better when winning the day’s five-star 1.45m two-phase class with Obora’s Laura. The pair jumped one of 13 double clears, from a start list of 59, in a time of 26.41 to win the class.

Thursday saw Curran and DHF Alliance placing fourth in the four-star Classic Tour 1.45m speed class, with a clear round in a time of 72.13.

Then, on Friday, Simpson and the 11-year-old stallion Pjotr van de Kruishoeve won the four-star 1.50m speed class from 47 starters, a qualifier for the German Jumping Derby, with a clear round in 90.82. Simpson’s prize was a Harley Davidson motorcycle worth €28,000, which he seemed very happy to take for a lap of honour! Guy Williams (GBR) and Crumbgraft were runners-up in 93.21, while Curran rode Hawthornhill (ISH) into 10th place.

Tom Wachman and Obora’s Laura placed sixth in the 45-strong five-star 1.50m jump-off class.

Saturday’s four-star 1.50m Grand Prix saw Butler finish on the podium in third with Ti Amo B Z, with a double clear in 43.90, with Curran on DHF Alliance placing seventh and Tim Brennan on Diadema della Caccia ninth in the class.

Curran proved his consistency when winning the four-star 1.40m speed and handiness class on board Carrigsoir. The Irish were well represented in the top 10, with Derek McCoppin fourth with Miss A Name, Nano Healy eighth with Stak Cornet and Simpson 10th with Billy Whiskey.

Stephan Dubsky finished best of the Irish in Sunday’s four-star 1.55m German Jumping Derby, when he rode C The Stars into fourth place. He was followed by Curran on Hawthornhill (ISH) in seventh and Conor McMahon on Sea Shanghai in 10th.