CLARE’S Philip McGuane rode the nine-year-old mare Crislin van den Bosrand Z, owned by Evergate Stables, to win the $62,500 Upperville Welcome Stake class on Friday, coming out best of the 37 starters over a course designed by fellow Irish man Alan Wade. The first round produced 10 clears, who then proceeded to the jump-off, where four combinations managed to keep a clean sheet.

McGuane’s time of 33.74 was just a hundredth of a second ahead of runner-up Sloane Coles (USA) on Ninja JW van de Moerhoeve, who finished in a time of 33.75. Daniel Bluman (ISR) on Hummer Z completed the podium in 33.97.

Irish riders took further top-10 placings with Nicky Galligan on Jolly-Jessy in ninth and Daniel Kerins on Malou Blue PS in 10th place.

The Upperville Colt and Horse Show is the oldest horse show in the US, having been founded in 1853, and ran in Virginia last week, with classes from June 1st until 7th, including a number of national and schooling classes alongside the international competitions.

The opening international class was the $31,500 Upperville Power and Speed Stake, which saw Paul O’Shea take both eighth and ninth places on Imerald van’t Voorhof and Manglar LS La Silla respectively.

In Saturday’s $31,500 Upperville Speed Stake class, McGuane rode Donvier into sixth place with a clear round in 63.66, followed by David O’Brien on El Balou OLD in ninth in a time of 64.40.

The lucrative $200,000 Upperville Jumper Classic on Sunday saw just 20 combinations on the start list, with O’Shea placing ninth with Imerald van’t Voorhof. Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Hummer Z took the win and the $60,000 first prize.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the US at Traverse City’s three-star show, Shane Sweetnam rode Pegina VD Bisschop into sixth place in the Four G Surface Grand Prix on Saturday. The class was won by Sweetnam’s daughter Olivia (USA) riding Epic.