DOWN’S Conor Swail made his mark in Mexico over the weekend, when he competed a number of horses in both the five-star and two-star classes at Club Hipico in Coapexpan.

Swail was top of the class of 32 in Thursday’s five-star 1.55m jump-off class, when he steered Casturano to a double clear round in a jump-off time of 41.24 seconds. Next best in the eight-strong tiebreaker was Australia’s Lauren Balcomb on Verdini D’Houtveld Z in 41.49, with the final podium place going to Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia on Con-Corin 46.49.

Placings

Swail and Casturano had got off to a great start, when placing third in Wednesday’s 35-strong five-star 1.45m two-phase class. The pair jumped double clear in a second phase time of 41.86, being beaten by two Mexican riders, Luciana Roberta Gonzalez Guerra on Messini De F in first place (38.50) and Luis Manuel Santisteban Portilla on Relajo LS in second (40.40). Swail also placed ninth in the class with Clonterm Obolensky.

Swail won the day’s two-star 1.40m class riding Chactensky PS, recording a double clear in 35.25 and also placed fifth with Vago Chin VT Willebeke Z (39.53).

On Thursday, Swail rode Chactensky PS into eighth place in the two-star 1.40m speed class, when clear in 71.63.

The Co Down rider claimed another win in Friday’s two-star 1.45m two-phase special, when proving best of 15 double clear rounds from 39 starters. Swail and Nadal Hero & DB recorded a jump-off time of 33.30 to secure the win, almost a second ahead of Juan Bautista Pidutti Hortas (ARG) on Champion De Bo Z in second (34.24).

Swail placed fifth in Saturday’s two-star 1.35m two-phase special on board Chactensky PS, while in Sunday’s five-star 1.50m two-phase special, he took fourth place with Theo 160, when recording the fastest time but having a rail down in their attempt to win.