A NUMBER of Irish riders were in attendance at the two-star show jumping fixture at Sentower Park, Opglabbeek in Belgium, which ran from November 19th until 23rd. It was a successful show for some, especially for Nicola O’Sullivan riding Rossabelle Fortunas and Caitlin Duffy riding Jockeyhall Midas Touch, who each won a one-star class, as well as placing in others.

Wednesday’s one-star 1.05m speed class saw Ireland’s O’Sullivan on Rossabelle Fortunas finishing second and James Courtney Cadam on DPS Dunkirk placing fourth, both recording clear rounds.

On Thursday, Conor Drain rode Jamal EB into ninth place in the two-star 1.40m speed class from 87 participants, while O’Sullivan and Rossabelle Fortunas went one better than the previous day when winning the one-star 1.05m two-phase special with a double clear round in a phase two time of 25.04. Courtney Cadam also went one better with DPS Dunkirk, this time finishing on the podium in third in a second phase time of 27.68. The Irish pair were divided on the podium by China’s Yige Gao on Vodka Orange in second place in 26.41.

The one-star 1.15m two-phase special saw two Irish in the top 10, when Caitlin Duffy finished on the podium in third with Jockeyhall Midas Touch and Isabelle O’Conaola on ESI Hamshire placed eighth.

Speed win

Friday saw Paul McDermott riding Lagans KBS Calvo Lad to a podium finish when third in the one-star 1.25m speed class, while Duffy and Jockeyhall Midas Touch won the day’s one-star 1.15m speed class.

McDermott followed up with a fourth place in Saturday’s one-star 1.25m speed class on board Lagans KBS Calvo Lad, while Sophie Dalm and KEC Jackalynn placed seventh in the two-star 1.35m speed class.

Drain and Jamal EB were sixth in the two-star 1.45m two-phase special, with Courtney Cadam on DPS Dunkirk fourth in the one-star 1.10m two-phase special. Dalm and Nerium placed sixth in the day’s Young Horse one-star seven and eight-year-old 1.35m/1.40m jump-off class.

Sunday saw Emily Moloney and Temple Alice finish joint sixth in the two-star 1.45m Grand Prix, when they were among seven combinations from the 70 starters who booked their place in the jump-off.

Annie Courtney Cadam rode LCC Dunard Lady Dominator into 10th place in the one-star 1.30m jump-off class, while in the one-star 1.30m jump-off class only for riders without two-star horses, McDermott and Lagans KBS Calvo Lad were back on the podium in third to conclude a successful show for the Irish.