IRISH riders may not have featured in Saturday’s two-star $62,500 BrainWater 1.45m Grand Prix at week 11 of the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International, but the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Rincoola Milsean, bred by the late Harold McGahern, certainly did, winning the class in style with Charlotte Jacobs (USA) in the saddle. There were 45 starters in the class, with nine of them jumping clear within the time over the first-round track to proceed to the jump-off. Just five combinations managed to complete double clear rounds, with Jacobs and her chesnut mount doing so in the fastest time of 38.3 seconds. They were a second and a half quicker than next best Rupert Carl Winkelmann (GER) on Imodo, who stopped the clock in 39.84.

Wednesday’s four-star $6,000 1.45m two-phase special class saw Derry’s Jordan Coyle and For Gold finish in sixth place from 56 starters. Coyle and his mount jumped clear all the way in a phase two time of 31.91. Ashlee Bond (ISR) won the class with Comme Ci Comme Ca in a speedy 27.97.

Coyle moved up in the placings on Thursday, when he rode King Kannan GP into fourth place in the 31-strong four-star $32,000 1.50m speed class. Coyle was one of just six clear rounds in the class and his time of 70.84 wasn’t quite quick enough to catch Canadian winner Erynn Ballard on Coconet, who clocked a lightning-fast time of 65.38.

Daniel Kerins and Malou Blue PS placed eighth in Thursday’s two-star $32,000 1.45m qualifier from a start list of 67. The Irish pair were among 11 to jump clear in the first round to get through to the jump-off, where they were the fastest of the four-faulters.

Meanwhile, in the $8,200 1.45m Open Jumper class, Nicky Galligan rode Lougherne Kingfisher into second place, followed by Darragh Kerins on RSK Quality Cruise in seventh and Daniel Kerins on Copernicus in 10th.

In the day’s $6,150 1.40m Open Jumper class of 25, Paul O’Shea and Ouija finished in fourth place, with Max Wachman on Kannem JA Z not far behind in seventh.

Coyle recorded another top 10 placing on Friday, when he rode Chaccolino into equal 10th place in the four-star $62,500 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 from a start list of 50. The best 12 from round one returned to jump again, with Israel’s Daniel Bluman on Malina winning the class in 52.2 seconds.