ONE rider who certainly enjoyed a great outing at Balmoral was Veronica Tracy who landed a brace of wins in the international show jumping arena with the talented Zuidam.

Tracy’s first win came in the Rydale International Speed and Power with Zuidam as they lodged the fastest clear in 39.84. Owned by Paul Carr, Zuidam (KWPN) is a 14-year-old stallion by Guidam out of the Indoctro-sired dam Our Mexico. Under Greg Broderick’s command in 2017, the stallion won the speed Derby and the Speed Stakes at the Dublin Horse Show.

Little separated the placings as Paul Barker and Happy Boy crossed the line in 39.39 for second. Rebecca McGoldrick took third with Duco when stopping the clock in 40.94. English visitor Louise Saywell and Sultanah clocked 41.13 for fourth ahead of Sligo’s Richard Howley and Notis Me in 41.55.

Sven Hadley’s clear with the seven-year-old Ganorad in 42.88 saw him complete the top-six line-up.

Tracy also took the win in the Aon Risk Services (NI) Ltd International Accumulator. Riding Zuidam, she recorded the maximum score of 65 in a time of 54.44 seconds. Visiting riders dominated this class occupying five of the top spots. From the 24 starters, 11 of those finished on the maximum score of 65.

Rebecca McGoldrick and Duco took second place when clocking 54.66.

Keith Shore was fractions behind with Iron Lady Van T Meulenhof in 54.95 for third. Accounting for fourth were James Smith and At First D’Authuit, in a time of 56.08, ahead of Paul Barker and Dalton in 56.68. Gerard Clarke and Kellswater Crimson slotted into sixth when clocking 57.29.

WIN FOR LENNON

On Thursday morning, 35 combinations lined out to contest the Connolly’s Red Mills International Spectacular. From the original starters, 16 delivered clears, and from those came five double clears.

Taking the win and the lion’s share of the £4,000 on offer was Dermott Lennon. Riding Mullabrack Royal Pride, Lennon lodged the winning time of 42.70.

English riders were certainly on form and Keith Shore’s clear with Iron Lady Van T Meulenhof, in 43.60, proved good enough for second.

Rebecca McGoldrick and Fleur IV were fractions behind in 43.74 for third, ahead of Alexander Butler and Castlefield in 48.85. Stacey Babes and Cazador opted for a more careful approach and it paid off, as they were last of the double clears in 50.76 for fifth. Captain Geoff Curran proved that the time could be beaten when clocking 42 seconds but four faults saw them slot into eventual sixth.

BRENNAN RULES

Victory in the second international class, The Holmestead Saddlery International Stakes, went to English rider Kerry Brennan riding Wellington. First to go in the 13-way jump-off, Darragh Ryan put it up to the rest when he delivered a clear in 42.43 to take the lead and later eventual fifth.

Next up, Kerry Brennan’s tight turn to the double at nine with the 14-year Wellington saw her make up valuable time and reduce the target to 40.77 seconds. Kenneth Graham took off in a determined pace with George and a clear in 41.85, would later proved good enough for eventual fourth.

There was anxious moments for Brennan, as Graham Lovegrove took a series of tight lines with Alfie 192, however despite this, a clear in 41.29 saw him settle for second. Captain Geoff Curran negotiated a series of tight lines with Hallowberry Cruz and stopped the clock 41.76, slotting them into eventual third.

Third last to go, Clem Mcmahon delivered a clear with Pacifico in 43.90 for sixth.

BARKER HAPPY

International jumping kicked off at Balmoral last Wednesday afternoon with 35 combinations contesting the Clive Richardson LTD International speed class. For those with a win in mind, time could be made up in the turn back form the oxer at five, to the Balmoral vertical and then on to the Dublin Horse Show oxer.

Towards the end of the course, riders need to negotiate a good turn from the double and then on to fence nine, before heading to the last line.

In total, seven combinations maintained clean sheets and taking the win was Paul Barker and Happy Boy. Going late, Barker clocked the winning time of 70.68 seconds.

Ger O’Neill was just over three seconds behind the winner in 73.55 aboard C Keith Shore and Iron Lady Van TMeulenhof’s, clear in 75.61 saw them slot into fifth, ahead of fellow English rider Graham Lovegrove and Tyson Z, in 76.08.

The last clear was delivered by American rider Adrienne Dixon and Killossery Kaiden in 84.46.