IRELAND’s Darragh Kenny was in terrific form at the five-star fixture at Olympia on the opening day last Wednesday, bagging two big wins with victory in the Santa Stakes with Cassini Z, followed by a win in the Musto Inside Edge Stakes riding Carlson.

Kenny’s Olympia got off to a splendid start with a double of victories. The Offaly native took the Santa Stakes on Cassini Z and set an unmatchable target of 48.56 seconds on Carlson in The Musto Inside Edge Stakes, a speed class. For good measure, he was also second in the opening Welcome Stakes on Billy Dorito behind Dutch rider Doron Kulpers on Freestyle. “It’s been a great day – it’ll probably all go downhill from here on,” joked a delighted Darragh Kenny.

While Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten ended as Leading Rider of the show, Kenny was second while Olympia newcomer Doron Kuipers from The Netherlands was third in the final rider rankings with William Funnell the best Briton in fourth.

Deusser wins

GERMANY’s Daniel Deusser, the world number seven, set a fast pace in the jump-off of The Martin Collins Enterprises Christmas Tree Stakes to take the class on the 14-year-old grey Cornet, by the leading jumping sire Cornet Obolensky.

This class bucked the trend, with only four through to the jump-off. First to go, Deusser, who rides for Stephex Stables in Belgium, set a fast pace with a clear in 31.25 seconds. Simon Delestre for France on Conbelleza also left all the fences up but was fractionally slower in 32.07 seconds.

Maikel van der Vleuten was third for the Netherlands on Idi Utopia and William Funnell, who has now moved up to second place behind Geir Gulliksen in the Leading Rider of the Show rankings, was fourth on Billy Diamo.

Stockdale remembered

LAST Saturday came to a moving close, with the Whitaker family’s annual presentation of the Ryan’s Son Trophy for services to the sport.

This year, with many of his colleagues looking on, it was presented posthumously to the late Tim Stockdale whose wife, Laura, and sons Joe and Mark were there to collect it.

Broome award

DAVID Broome CBE was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual British Equestrian Writers’ Association (BEWA) lunch by BEWA’s chair, Andrew Baldock.