CO LOUTH’s Mark McAuley is in form heading into next week’s FEI European Championships at Riesenbeck, Germany, coming off the back of a brilliant five-star win in Valence, France, last Sunday, and he also finished fifth in the five-star Grand Prix at the venue.

McAuley guided the 17-year-old gelding Miebello, owned by Scea La Tuiliere, to victory in Sunday’s 1.50m jump-off. Ten of the starting 34 made it through to the timed round, where McAuley was the fastest of four clears in 36.24 seconds to earn €12,850.

He beat Sweden’s Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli into second place with the 11-year-old Irish Sport horse gelding Nintender Star (Nintender x Star Kingdom) who was bred by Pat Tully. Frenchman Gregory Cottard slotted into third place with Cocaine du Val.

Another Irish Sport Horse in the line-up was the Frank and Laura Glynn-bred FTS Killossery Konfusion (Livello x Cruising) under Bertram Allen. The 11-year-old grey gelding was produced by Alex Duffy for Nicola FitzGibbon and Niall Talbot, and recently moved to Allen’s Ballywalter Farms and the pair have had good success to date.

Earlier in the week they score two third place finishes, first in Thursday’s 1.40m with a double clear round, and in Saturday’s 1.50m Table A to pick up €4,500.

Double clear

McAuley finished third in Saturday’s 1.45m two-phase with the nine-year-old mare O’Hara ELS, owned by Philippe Geiser, with a double clear in 34.17 seconds. Victory went to Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca with Malissa de Muze (0/0 33.97).

Both McAuley and Allen made it through to the 11-horse jump-off and the Louth man slotted into fifth place with the nine-year-old gelding Cap West, who was jumping in his first five-star Grand Prix. A second clear in the jump-off in 39.71 saw then earn €14,000. Allen finished 11th with Harley vd Bisschop with two down against the clock.

All three spots on the Grand Prix podium went the way of the home nation. Olivier Perreau was winning his first ever five-star Grand Prix with Venizia d’Aiguilly, fastest of the lot in 36.92 seconds when last to go, to take home the top prize fund of €50,000. He beat compatriot Gregory Cottard (Bibici) into second place and Simon Delestre (Hermes Ryan) finished third.

“This is my first CSI5* Grand Prix victory,” Perreau said afterwards. “I saw Grégory Cottard’s round, which was already very fast, then Simon’s one, which was just as quick. I had all this in mind when I was last to go and so I pulled out all the stops. It was an advantage for me to go last, especially concerning the distances I chose. I knew where I had to go fast if I wanted to win, I had to give it my all.”