IRELAND’S Olivia Ann Nell made a good start to her trip to the two-star fixture at San Giovanni in Marignano in Italy over the weekend, when she rode Pepita de Muze to win the one-star 1.20m two-phase class on Friday, jumping clear all the way in a second phase time of 30.89. Ireland’s Kevin Thornton placed joint ninth in the class on board Totoulon Z (33.12), along with Austria’s Katharina Rhomberg on Ton Ami van de Molenberg.

Nell then placed ninth in the one-star 1.25m two-phase class, this time riding Cart d’Or SDW Z (33.5).

Thornton claimed eighth place in Saturday’s two-star 1.35m two-phase class on board Rendez-Vous AEG, when they jumped double clear in a time of 29.52.

Nell and Pepita de Muze were runners-up in Saturday’s one-star 1.20m speed class, when they jumped clear in 59.9 seconds - less than half a second behind Austrian winner Mataia Gohm on Life Star (59.45).

Nell then took third place in Sunday’s one-star 1.10m speed class with Cinca 3 when finishing clear in 68.47. Sophia Hitzbleck (NZL) on Redcliffs Goats was the clear winner in a fast time of 62.83.