SHANE Breen and the Irish-bred Compelling Z won the inaugural €20,000 Horse Sport Ireland Irish Showjumping Masters at Emerald EC, which was broadcast live on RTÉ2 on Friday night.

The 10-year-old Chellano Z-sired stallion, who was bred in Co Waterford by Carmel and Dermot Ryan, was the best of three double clears in the eight-horse jump-off. Breen, who is based at Hickstead in the UK was delighted to scoop the top prize and drive away in the Overlander two-horse truck, worth €50,000.

Speaking afterwards, Breen said: “I am absolutely over the moon. I wondered had I gone a little bit too slow. Compelling Z is Irish-bred, Irish-owned and to come over here…he jumped wonderful tonight. Huge congrats to Horse Sport Ireland and everyone who made tonight happen, it has been a huge success. I think it is a brilliant idea. We are honoured that RTÉ televised it. I think it is a step in the right direction for our sport.

“I’ve had many horses for Carmel and Dermot. They have been great supporters, to breed a horse like that is a great feeling, to win a big Grand Prix like this at home, I am delighted for them.”

On his plan for the jump-off, Breen said: “Alan Wade built a super course. It was quite a galloping jump-off and I was quite worried about Denis Lynch and Richard Howley [coming behind me]; they are two very fast horses and competitive riders. I thought I would go in and do the quickest round I can do, without doing any heroics. There was a mention would I do six when I jumped out of the double to the oxer, but I’m glad I didn’t risk it. I took quite a few risks and Compelling Z answered every question.”

Very special

Carmel Ryan was over the moon to watch her home-bred win on home turf. “I hadn’t seen him since Aachen, nearly two years in July. It was absolutely great to have him home. I’ve been to a lot of shows in my time and I don’t think I ever had the feeling I had the other night. To be at home in your own country and to win it, it really was something so special,” she told The Irish Field.

“I know he is a good horse, but you never know on the night. Once he had been through the first round, there was just a relief he made it into the jump-off. I woke up for the last two mornings thinking about what happened, it was bit unreal really!”

Carmel and her husband Dermot finally got to watch the show back on television on Sunday night. “It was great, that show was so well done, so well organised and it was a great atmosphere. It was very special I have to say, and I hope they have it again. I think the possibility is there to have a show like that once a year,” she added.

Technical

Alan Wade built a big and technical 1.50m track, with the main problems coming at the red oxer with the water tray beneath, and the Horse Sport Ireland treble combination also caused its fair share of problems.

From 30 starters, 11 produced clears in the first round but sadly, with only eight coming back to contest the timed round, three of those clears missed out. One of them was the first clear of the night, UK-based Clare show jumper Conor McMahon with El Wee Widge, who produced the first clear of the night when fourth to go.

Waterford’s Anthony Condon, who is also British-based, missed out with Ajaccienne after his clear, and so too did Tipperary’s Greg Broderick with the Irish Sport Horse BP Hybernia, the only traditionally bred horse in the competition, bred by Dr Noel Cawley.

First to go against the clock was 19-year-old Jason Foley with the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse grey gelding Castlefield Vegas (Cassino x Lux Z), owned by Martin Egan and Ger O’Neill. The pair posted a fast time of 41.39 seconds but faulted at the second part of the double, what was the combination in the first round, to finish on four faults. He won the leading young rider prize and finished fifth overall.

David Simpson was next with the Breen Equestrian and Quirke Sport Horses-owned gelding Foudre F, who made his Nations Cup debut in Vilamour last month. They ran into trouble at the second and third fences and finished on a total of 12 faults.

Former world champion Dermott Lennon was next to go with another Irish-bred, the Gerry Marron and Luc Henry-bred L’Esprit Hero Z (Lexicon x For Pleasure), and they produced the first clear round in 42.54 seconds, which was eventually got enough for the runner-up spot.

Shane Breen gave it everything with Compelling Z and a strong gallop to the final oxer saw them break the beam in 41.44 seconds.

Oakingham Stud’s Eoin Gallagher knocked fence three to finish with four faults in 43.27 aboard Faltic HB. Co Down-based Egyptian rider Sameh El Dahan and Joanne Sloan Allen’s Irish-bred WKD Aimez Moi (Je T’Aime Flamenco) finished with eight faults when faulting at both parts of the double.

Second last to go, speed merchant Richard Howley and his own Arlo de Blondel took off at speed and clocked the fastest time of the night (39.78) but the first part of the double on the ground meant they had to settle for fourth place.

Last to go, Denis Lynch was out to win after travelling from The Netherlands and, aboard GC Chopin’s Bushi, looked like he was close, but their time of 42.54 was just fractions slower than Shane Breen and Dermott Lennon to slot into third place.

Runner-up Lennon, commented: “This is great for the sport, great it is on live TV.

“I don’t think us as competitors really notice it is on television. It was great for the younger riders to experience that here tonight. Alan (Wade) never leaves it easy but got everyone around safe.”

Third-placed Denis Lynch, competing on the national circuit for the first time in many many years, said: “I don’t know about unlucky…I overestimated, I thought I was quick. I had to wait from two to three with the horse, that’s okay, that’s sport. His last run before he came here, he won the Grand Prix. He is a brilliant horse.

“It was a great course tonight, very well done. If anything, I found the ground a bit too hard sadly. That’s okay, it is first time here. It was a fantastic course, fantastic course designer.

“I was delighted to come back for, there is nothing better than competing at home.”

British winner

British rider Georgia Tame landed victory in Thursday’s €3,000 warm up class with Evita. The 23-year-old, who rides at Shane Breen’s Breen Team in Hickstead, was 10th to go in the class of 40 competitors and set the standard when clear in 61.44 seconds. That time held as the remaining 30 tried, and failed, to catch her and she was presented with the winner’s rosette by sponsor Stephen O’Connor.

Canadian Rebecca McGoldrick, who trains with Dermott Lennon, finished second with Baccara Des Forets (0/ 62.53), while 19-year-old Jack Ryan, returning from the UK where he also trains and works with Shane Breen, placed third with Essenar High Hopes.

Tame and Ryan, who are both part of the Rolex Young Rider Academy this year, had a quick trip back to the UK and were on a flight to Dubai on Monday morning, where they will spend January and February with the Team Z7 horses.