DERMOTT Lennon brought jumping at the Vilamoura Sunshine Tour in Portugal to an exciting close last Sunday as he rode to victory in the three-star 1.50m Grand Prix. Riding Rebecca Mcgoldrick’s 12-year-old mare Fleur IV (Chatman x Darco), Lennon posted the fastest clear round of 39.39 seconds in a five-horse jump-off to take the winner’s prize of €6,250. The Co Down man finished almost a second ahead of British runner-up Phillip Spivey with Darya I Nur (40.19), while Dutch rider Charlotte Verhagen took third spot third with Abache HL (40.25). Anthony Condon finished fourth for Ireland with Balzac after they produced one of four double clear rounds (40.42).

Earlier in the week, Lennon and Fleur IV were best of the Irish, finishing seventh in the 1.45m Table A when clear in 66.81. Condon was also in the line-up of the three-star 1.35m class when he finished third with Zira vh Kapelhof Z, clear in 57.12 seconds.

Paul Beecher and Glamstone finished sixth in the CSIYH* 1.25m jump-off class when one of only six double clears in a time of 50.89 seconds. The Waterford rider added to his tally when he piloted Asti 71 to fourth place in the 1.30m with double clear in 41.04.

Cameron Hanley and Arany de Kergane (Nervoso x L’Arc De Triomphe) lodged the winning round in the CSIYH* seven-year-old class (1.35m), clear in 66.46. Liam McKee and Eskers Little Miss Quality placed third, also clear with a times of 70.03, while Anthony Condon and Belung Z were sixth (76.34).