JONATHAN Corrigan became the first Irish international winner since returning to FEI competitions following three months of lockdown due to Covid-19.

The Co Meath native landed victory in Friday’s $36,600 Welcome Stakes at the two-star Traverse City Spring Horse Show in Michigan, USA. Corrigan was last to go in the six-horse jump-off with the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Loughnavatta Indigo (Luidam x VDL Arkansas) and broke the beam in 38.50 seconds to earn $12,000.

The gelding, owned by Debra Wycoff, was bred by Rory Costigan and produced in Ireland by Gemma Phelan before being sold to the US. Under Phelan’s command, he won the 1.50m Premier Series Grand Prix in Galway as a nine-year-old.

Speaking afterwards, Corrigan said: “To be honest, I was kind of thinking of jumping a slow clear but I watched Samuel (Parot) go and he was quick but I just thought there was one or two areas that I could be quick without having to run, so I thought maybe it would make sense when I was last to go to just do it.”

Corrigan finished second in the two-star Grand Prix aboard the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Super Chilled (by Gelvin Clover), who was bred by Cheryl Broderick in Co Tipperary and is also owned by the Wycoff family.

The pair were one of just three double clear rounds in 38.51 seconds, just behind USA winner Ryan Genn and Dieta (0/0 37.19).