BRITAIN’S Holly Smith has now won all major Puissance competitions in Britain after sharing last Saturday evening’s class at the four-star Bolesworth Horse Show with Ireland’s Mikey Pender and Britain’s Alfie Bradstock.

All three cleared the final round height of 2.20m to share the spoils. Smith rode her specialist Quality Old Joker, while Pender was aboard Hearton du Bois Halleux and Bradstock on H. d’OR.

A total of eight combinations began the maximum five-round contest, and five remained in contention, the eventual winners, plus Nick Benterman and Ireland’s Nano Healy (KMS Clintland), who both took bricks out of the giant red wall in the final round.

Pender has become somewhat of a specialist himself and won with the 12-year-old gelding at the Dublin Horse Show and Liverpool International last season. “My horse jumped brilliantly tonight. I am absolutely delighted,” he said afterwards. Smith added: “He (Quality Old Joker) has won the four now. He never normally does very well outdoors but he was great tonight.”

David Simpson was best of the Irish in Sunday’s 1.55m Grand Prix at the venue, which was plagued by bad weather and forced to close its doors to the public.

Simpson guided the nine-year-old Jenson 55 to fourth place with a clear round in a time of 40.56 in the nine-horse jump-off. Victory went to Belgium’s Rik Hemeryck and Ulyss Morinda, ahead of USA’ Laura Kraut (Vvaramog de Breve) in second and Britain’s Ellen Whitaker (Arena UK Winston) in third.

Richard Howley was the runner-up in Friday’s 1.50m jump-off class aboard Chinook. His time of 36.04 against the clock was just slower than Britain’s Holly Smith and Hearts Destiny. Kilkenny’s Ger O’Neill finished seventh with Uncas S.