INTERNATIONAL action in CSI2* Millstreet came to an exciting close last Sunday with the highly-anticipated Noel C Duggan Engineering 1.45m Millstreet Grand Prix, with 56 combinations battling it out for the winner’s share of the €30,000 on offer.

Taking the win in the competitive 14-horse jump-off was Kian Dore aboard Monterey Bay and, with it, the top prize of €9,000.

Speaking afterwards, Dore said: “It’s always great to have a win in Millstreet, but the Grand Prix is the big one. My plan was to go as quick as I could and, after seeing Jack’s (Ryan) round, I knew that I couldn’t hang about. He [the horse] was bought in France and has been very consistent, winning three National Grands Prix and finishing fifth in the Premier Series in Maryville.

“My other horse Helssinki is a really good horse. He competed as a young horse in Lanaken and finished in the top 10, so I have high hopes for him too. Both horses are extremely scopey and have huge potential.

Dore added: “I would like to thank Jillian Lennon for letting me ride Monterey Bay and Millstreet for putting on a great show. The atmosphere was great and they pulled out all the stops.”

The 10-year-old Monte Bellini gelding Monterey Bay is owned by Jillian Lennon and was bred in Germany by Felicitas Erfurt.

Going on the high level of jumping during the week, it came as no surprise that the feature class would go down to the wire. Out of the original starters, eight delivered double clears.

Sixth to go on the start list, Jack Ryan was first to book his place with DSH Lucky Junior in the second round and a further 10 joined him on zero faults while, with the top 25% of the start list (56) progressing, Jessica Burke (Billy Fern) and James Derwin (Amos L Z) carried a single time fault with them into round two. Burke was also the fastest four-faulter with Fly for You and took the final place in the jump-off.

The pressure was on Ryan as he acted as pathfinder and he once again answered all the questions with DSH Lucky Junior and delivered a clear in 40.33 to put it up to the rest. Bred by Seamus Drea, the 10-year-old gelding is by Ryan’s former 5* mount BBS McGregor out of the Luidam mare Dshlyi.

Double-handed in the jump-off, Dore got his first look at the course with Helssinki and, although he didn’t demote Ryan from the leader position, his time of 41.30 would later see him take fifth and another share of the prize fund. The nine-year-old Helssinki, by Calvaro Z, is owned by Carol Dore.

The next double clear was delivered by Senan Reape riding his father Jonathan’s 11-year-old gelding Kalevus in 43.40 and this proved to be good enough for sixth place. Lauren Adams challenged to take the lead with the Gary Adams-owned Caddie Z and a clear in 41.23 would be enough to put her into provisional second place.

Adams’ runner-up spot was short lived as Paddy Reape shaved fractions off her time aboard Mr Rocky Blue, coming home clear in 40.61 to take provisional second and later finishing one place ahead of Adams in third. Also owned by Jonathan Reape, the 10-year-old gelding is by Chacoon Blue out of Ardeche Z. Last to go, Kian Dore knew what was required as he took it on with Monterey Bay and galloped home with nothing to add in a time of 39.64 to take the win.

A double clear from Eoin Brennan and Tim Brennan’s Coblue PS in 43.48 saw them take seventh place. Niamh Mc Evoy, and Rock Warrior delivered a clear second time out in 47.64 for eighth, while Nicholas Butler and Ladycastle Paco had one down in the second round in 44.91 for ninth. Clear in the first round, Eoin Brennan and Augustus Z had a pole on the ground in the second round in 45.09 for 10th place.

Clip My Horse 1.35m

Liam O’Meara recorded the win in Sunday’s Clip My Horse 1.35m class on BE Flygold, when he was fastest of 15 double clears in 35.46.

Taking the runner-up spot was Jessica Burke and BWE Windsor in 35.88. Third place was occupied by Lt Raphael Lee and Derrycush, coming home in 35.99. Francis Connors and Martello Chapella took fourth with a clear in 36.42, ahead of Sven Hadley and Elka De La Pomme (37.52).

Rounding off the top six was Alanna Fagan and Billy Hastings (38.14).