JACK Ryan was on top form as week one of the X-Mas Tour at Azelhof, Lier in Belgium got underway, running from December 2nd to 7th. Ryan won the first division of Thursday’s two-star 1.40m speed class on board Keatingstown Mister Cool, when they jumped clear in a time of 53.67 to finish 0.6 seconds in front of Thibeau Spits (BEL) on Cloverly Dh Z (54.07) in second place. There were a huge 93 starters in the class, with 44 of them keeping the poles intact. A further 91 starters participated in the second division of the class.

It was certainly Ryan’s day, as he then won the 74-strong one-star 1.30m speed class on Linali Davincis Destiny, with a clear round in 55.82, more than a second ahead of British runner-up Jessica Campbell on La Chunga in 56.92.

Friday’s two-star 1.45m jump-off class saw Louth’s Mark McAuley and l’Arc En Ciel Z finish in ninth place out of 95 starters and went on to take fourth in Sunday’s two-star 1.45m Grand Prix. There were 67 starters in the class, just seven of whom jumped clear within the allocated time in round one. Six of those managed to remain without fault second time out, with McAuley’s time of 37.46 placing him just off the podium. The win went to Thibeau Spits (BEL) on Jazzy des Dames (36.70), with Marcel Schneider (GER) on Chucky PS in second (36.92) and Anthony Wellens (BEL) on Quelle Force Van Sappenleen in third (37.25).

Peelbergen

Meanwhile, Peelbergen Equestrian Centre in Kronenberg, The Netherlands, held a two-star fixture from December 2nd to 6th. Wexford’s Harry Allen placed third in Thursday’s two-star Big Tour 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier on board Lukaku Vd Bisschop when among six double clear rounds, clocking a jump-off time of 39.13. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) on Dixie Moon won the class in 38.92, with Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking (GER) on Ib Easy in second (39.03).

Friday’s two-star Medium Tour 1.40m two-phase special saw Daniel Fitzgerald on Fleuriske Z finish seventh, while Allen rode Guerlain de Kreisker into fifth place in the day’s Big Tour 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier.

Fitzgerald took another top-10 placing with Fleuriske Z when 10th in Saturday’s two-star Medium Tour Final 1.45m jump-off, while Allen finished sixth in the two-star 1.45m Grand Prix with Guerlain de Kreisker.

Michael G Duffy and Mcgyver finished 10th in the Youngster Tour seven and eight-year-old 1.40m/ 1.45m two-phase special.