JACK Ryan won the Grand Prix at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club in the UAE last Saturday. He guided the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding BBS McGregor (VDL Cardento x Mark Twain xx), bred by his mother Marguerite Ryan, to the top place, ahead of Britain’s Georgia Tame with another Irish Sport Horse, the Marion Huges-bred Z7 Ascot (Nonstop x Voltaire).

In Wellington, Florida, the first international Grand Prix of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival took place and it was USA’s ultra-experienced Bezzie Madden who claimed the top spot in the $137,000 three-star class.

She guided Breitling LS to the fastest of just two double clear rounds in the jump-off. Ireland’s Andrew Bourns finished fourth with the talented 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Sea Topblue (Chacco-Blue), bred by James and John Meade.

The pair picked up a single time fault in the first round to earn $13,700. Bourns Sport Horses also had a hand in the second and third-placed horses. USA’s Adrienne Sternlicht rode Benny’s Legacy (Lupicor x Voltaire) to the runner-up place with a double clear in 45.17 seconds. The 13-year-old stallion was produced in Ireland, first by the Kuehnle family, and later by Jenny Rankin for Bourns Sport Horses.

Third place went to Israel’s Sydney Shulman with the 12-year-old gelding J-Boston S.E who Bourns competed last season before he was sold.

Speaking to the Weekly Wire, Andrew Bourns said: “It was very satisfying that three of the top four finishers in the Grand Prix all have a connection to our programme. They were found and produced by my parents and I. it’s very much a team effort. My parents are the eyes and ears looking for horses, and I am the lucky one who gets to ride them.”

Paul O’Shea was runner-up in Friday’s three-star 1.50m Table A. He guided Chacanntus to a double clear in 38.95 seconds to earn $7,400, behind America’s Molly Ashe Cawley with Berdien (0/0 36.54).

Also in Wellington, at The Ridge, Offaly’s Kevin Mealiff won the $15,000 Turf Tour aboard Cool Hand Luke. Mealiff also finished sixth in the class with Tupac van de Vrombautshoeve Z, just behind Willie Tynan in fifth place with Fancy Girl.

In Oliva, Spain, Lauren Divine won last Saturday’s one-star 1.30m with Cassandra VL Z and the pair made it two in-a-row when landing Sunday.s 1.30m Table A and slotted into third with Baby Boom O’Moulin.