IRELAND’s Rhys Williams became the third Irish winner in as many years of the prestigious FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy at the five-star Mechelen Horse Show on Monday afternoon, meaning no rider from any other country has ever won the overall title.

Williams saw off compatriots Alex Finney and John McEntee, who finished second and third to complete an Irish whitewash on the overall table.

It was Finney, however, who landed victory in the third and final round in Mechelen aboard the eight-year-old gelding Still Got Me, owned by Jean Finney. The pair were among 10 clears from a startlist of 13 in the first round.

Their time of 65.99 seconds was the fastest of four clear rounds against the clock to secure the top spot ahead of Denmark’s Josefine Sandgaard Morup and Rainbows Mocha (0/0 69.57). Williams secured the overall victory when he finished third in that final class with Morgan Sheehy’s K-Little Hero d’18 (70.83) to finish on a grand total of 37 points, five ahead of Finney on 32.

John McEntee slotted into fourth place in Monday final with Sandra Duffy’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Little Smithe with the last of the double clear rounds in 71.06 seconds to complete in overall third place on 28 points.

Williams opened his account when fourth in the first round on Friday, and jumped to second on the overall leaderboard when finishing third in Saturday’s second round.

“I’m delighted with the outcome today – Hero was jumping his heart out!” said the 15-year-old from Ennis in Co Clare. Talking about the pony that carried him to victory he explained: “Hero has a horse pedigree but he never grew and he’s all power!

“Going into the final round I just tried my best to keep my cool. I knew that was all I had to do and it’s a dream come true! To come to Mechelen this year and to be at the same show as the five-star riders and share the same arenas – it’s such a great experience and I’ll be back again hopefully!”

The results end another very successful series for Irish riders. With four rounds in total, Alex Finney and Still Got Me won in Herning, before McEntee and Little Smithe claimed victory in Stuttgart.