EOIN McMahon and the 10-year-old stallion Disney Z claimed the top prize in the three-star 1.40m two-phase special class at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium on Saturday, when they jumped double clear in a phase two time of 29.16 seconds. The Irish man wasn’t alone on the podium, as Shane Breen on CSF Thomascourt Zena placed third in a time of 30.90. Of the 59 starters in the class, 29 completed without fault.
Podium place
Week one of the Summer Tour at Opglabbeek in Belgium took place last week, from Thursday until Sunday, and the Irish were well represented.
Thursday’s 79-strong three-star 1.40m two-phase special saw Bertram Allen finish on the podium in third with Next Cornet, jumping double clear in a time of 28.69. Niall Talbot on Global Touch followed in fifth in 29.16. It was a home win for Belgium’s Louis Lambrecht on Golden Boy des Joncs in a fast 27.27.
Talbot took another fifth place in Friday’s three-star 1.35m two-phase special with FTS Elliot, when double clear in a phase two time of 26.00. Michael Herhalt (GER) on Bella Donna 151 recorded the winning time of 25.25.
Talbot went one better in the three-star 1.40m two-phase special when fourth on Global Touch (30.18), with Eoin McMahon on CSF Ballsbridge just behind in sixth place (30.58). Talbot then placed ninth in the 65-strong three-star 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier riding Charming Dream Z.
Saturday’s one-star 1.35m jump-off class saw Francis Derwin place seventh on Izy Line Medicis. Eleven of the 37 starters jumped clear in round one, with six repeating their clear score second time out. Derwin was the fastest of the four-faulters in round two.
Runner-up
Meanwhile, in a one-star 1.35m jump-off class, only for one-star riders, Gavin Harley was runner-up with Supercali. From 25 starters, just six proceeded to the jump-off and only one was able to replicate their clear round - Joey Alberti (NED) on Comme Liam Z won the class; Harley was best of the rest in second.
On Sunday, Breen placed sixth in the 81-strong Young Horse one-star seven and eight-year-old 1.35m/1.40m jump-off class on Bollerup Gloria. There were 19 clear in the first round, with 11 jumping clear for a second time. Breen clocked 37.62 - almost three seconds behind the speedy winner, Daan Bernaerts (BEL) on Chilli Pepper Z in a time of 34.66.
The three-star 1.45m two-phase special saw McMahon on CSF Ballsbridge place fourth of the 90 starters, while Breen rode Cato Boy into eighth place. There were 25 fault-free scores in the class.
Sunday’s three-star 1.55m Grand Prix saw Talbot and Charming Dream Z finish eighth of 59 starters, with only eight jumping a clear first round to proceed to the jump-off. Just five combinations jumped double clear, with Karin Martinsen (SWE) on Tailormade Conita Blue PS best of these to secure the top prize.