CO Mayo’s Cameron Hanley was in exceptional from at the five-star Global Champions Tour in Cannes last weekend, scoring a win among many other placings and a runner-up finish in the Global Champions League.

Hanley got his weekend off to a good start on Thursday when he jumped a clear round in the team competition aboard Quirex, a nine-year-old gelding by Quirado.

Joined by Miami Celtics teammate Jessica Springsteen (USA), who also jumped clear with RMF Swinny du Parc, the combination were one of only two double clears to lie second behind the Prague Lions overnight.

Ballina’s Michael G Duffy put in a fantastic performance aboard Carl Hanley Sporthorses’ Lapuccino 2 to finished fourth individually in that 1.50m class.

First to go in Friday’s second round, Springsteen knocked two fences but Hanley kept his cool and delivered another flawless performance to keep his team in sight of a podium finished with 17 teams to follow.

Those eight faults were eventually good enough for second place on the podium and valuable points towards qualifying for the lucrative GCL Super Cup in Prague this December.

Bertram Allen’s Valkenswaard United rose from seventh place overnight to also finish on eight fault but in a slightly faster time to take the win. Although Allen was watching on, it was Alberto Zorzi and Jur Vrieling who produced the win.

“It is a great concept – in these four rounds of jumping a lot can change, a lot can happen and its really exiting until the last horse jumps. I was delighted with my horse,” Hanley said.

“Jessica was very good, clear the first day two rails today, but it was a really tough track today.”

Duffy once again jumped another spectacular clear round for his team of Madrid in Motion, this time with Castlefield Rubinus. Duffy, along with Hanley and the other Irish show jumpers, wore a black armband in memory of their good friend and rider Jack Dodd who had tragically passed away during the week.

Speaking when he exited the ring, Duffy said: “[It’s been a] tough week, we lost one of our best riders and friends, and he was with me there riding around today. We grew up together and have been best friends – he was in there with me today, I know it.”

Hanley and Quirex, who looks to be a turning into a real star at this level, then went on to jump one of eight double clears in the 1.60m Longines Grand Prix to finish in sixth place, collecting €13,500.

Victory went to European champion Peder Fredricson with Hansson WL, who scooped a whopping €99,000.

VICTORY

Hanley’s victory came in Friday’s Prix Hotel Martinez 1.45m aboard the 10-year-old mare Eis Isaura (Tinka’s Boy x Darco), owned by Equi Invest Showjumping Ltd and previously ridden by Ireland’s Paul Kennedy and Dave Quigley.

Hanley and Eis Isaura were drawn sixth-last to jump of the 31 starters and posted what proved the winning clear round in 61.18 seconds.

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch also finished in the prizes, taking fourth place with Fairview Aliquidam. Lynch took over the ride on the 11-year-old gelding from Australia’s Stuart Jenkins in May and he is now owned by Onyx Consulting Ltd.

In the later 1.50m jump-off class, Hanley and Eis Isaura were among 14 who made it into the jump-off where a clear in 36.21 saw them finish third.

Victory went to Belgium’s Pieter Devos with Apart in 35.26 seconds.