WEEK five of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), saw top athletes back to the Flintfields Horse Park for another day of top sport.

Taking centre stage in the Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel International Ring, a field of 38 athletes representing nine countries battled it out for the $137,000 Southern Arches Grand Prix CSI3* title.

After two triumphant rounds, it was the United States’ Bliss Heers and Antidote de Mars took the win for second time during week five as, when he delivered the winning round of clear in 41.40.

The last pair to tackle the jump-off track, Natalie Dean and Don’s Diamont, put their best foot forward for one final shot at unseating the unstoppable Heers and Antidote de Mars. Though Dean managed to navigate the course fault-free, her time fell just short of Heers’ lead, ultimately lending her the second place honours when she clocked 42.05 seconds.

Third place was filled by only other double-clear effort of the group, Cunniffe and Grayish LLC’s Vivaldi du Theil for their time of 43.80. Clare’s David Blake booked his place over the shortened course with the Pine Hollow Farm-owned Keoki, but two down against the clock in 41.11 saw him take eighth place.