CO Down’s Conor Swail came out on top in last Friday night’s 1.50m Pepsi Challenge at Spruce Meadows five-star show in Canada.

Riding the Vanessa Mannix-owned 10-year-old gelding GK Coco Chanel (Clarimo ASK x Lerano), Swail was one of just six riders to jump clear in the opening round and his time of 43.61 was over a second faster than the runners-up, Mexico’s Patricio Pasquel and Columbia’s John Perez, to secure $8,875.

“He (GK Coco Chanel) likes coming here (Spruce Meadows) and every time he comes he grows up a little bit. I just had to be patient and the win would come,” commented Swail on his horse’s consistent results throughout the 2018 Spruce Meadows Summer Series.

There were further top results from Irish riders at the Canadian venue. They included Derry’s Daniel Coyle who placed third in Sunday’s 1.50m jump-off class aboard Ariel Grange’s Ridley. Four faults secured them $15,000 behind Australian winner Rowan Willis. Captain Brian Cournane finished 10th in that class with the Irish Sport Horse Penelope Cruz (Ustinov x Peter Pan). The previous week, the Liam McKee-bred mare had placed third in a 1.50m jump-off class.

Galway’s Andrew Bourns scored two top-10 finishes aboard the 10-year-old gelding Diego. The combination slotted into fifth place in Sunday’s 1.50m winning round with a double clear in 59.92 seconds, collecting $7,896. Victory went to USA’s Kent Farrington and Jasper. Daniel Coyle placed eighth with Quintin.

Bourns’ other result came in Thursday’s 1.50m jump-off class, where Capt Cournane finished in fourth place with Armik after jumping a clear round against the clock in 43.96 seconds. Four faults slotted Bourns into ninth place, ahead of James Chawke in 10th with Caruso 724. USA’s Hunter Holloway claimed victory with Eastern Jam.