Duffy win

GALWAY’s Michael Duffy landed a win in the 1.40m Grand Prix qualifier at the two-star show in Opglabbeek, Belgium.

Riding the Irish Sport Horse mare ESI Hazel (by Lux Z), Duffy posted the fastest clear round in 61.72 seconds.

The nine-year-old grey mare was bred by Cian O’Connor and is owned jointly by O’Connor and Duffy.

Curran placed

CAPT Geoff Curran finished fifth in the three-star 1.50m Grand Prix at Arezzo, Italy, last Sunday. Riding the Minister for Defence’s Irish Sport Horse Shannondale Rahona (Shannnondale Sarco St Ghyvan x Cavalier Royale), Curran produced one of eight first round clears.

The 11-year-old mare faulted once in the jump-off, in a time of 42.55 seconds, picking up €1,750.

The Irish-bred Suma’s Zorro (Ard VDL Douglas x Horos) and Egyptian rider Sameh El Dahan won the class with a double clear in 42.08 seconds.

Curran and Shannondale Rahona finished sixth in Friday’s 1.45m speed. The pair were almost six seconds faster than Italian winner Matilde Giorgia Bianchi (0/68.15), but four faults meant they had to settle for sixth place (4/62.52).

Heffron third

ANABELLE Heffron placed third in Friday’s one-star 1.40m aboard the Irish Sport Horse Porsha (Porsh x Touchdown). The 14-year-old mare posted a clear round in 71.33 seconds.

Byrne in action

CO Longford’s Aisling Byrne finished fifth in last Friday’s two-star 1.35m aboard her own Celeste Spb Z at the Spring MET Oliva, Spain. Byrne guided the nine-year-old mare to a clear round in 60.07 seconds.

Byrne also placed eighth in Sunday’s 1.35m, this time with the Irish Sport Horse Wellview Classic Dream (Classic Vision x Urlingford) (0/0 31.83).

Ireland’s Frank Curran was three places ahead of Byrne in fifth with another ISH, Elamo Luz Like A Real One (0/0 31.14).

Drea on form

IRELAND’s Barry Drea is enjoying a run of good results at the Spring MET in Oliva, Spain, and last week racked up another two wins. Riding Okehurst Miss Mexico, he won Sunday’s two-star 1.30m. Drea guided the eight-year-old by Billy Mexico to the fastest clear in 63.02 seconds. Trevor Coyle finished third with Caju (0/67.10).

Drea also guided the consistent five-year-old Okehurst Mr Mexico to another win last week.

The chesnut gelding by Billy Mexico won Thursday’s five-year-old class, before going on to finish sixth in Sunday’s class (0/4 36.93).