SLIGO show jumper Richard Howley won the three-star Grand Prix at the Spanish sunshine tour in Vejer de la Frontera, where a host of Irish riders have flocked for the six week tour.

Riding his 12-year-old Nations Cup mount Chinook, who is owned by the rider and Sarah Borthwick, Howley was the fastest of 14 combinations in last Sunday’s lightning fast jump-off in the main arena, breaking the beam in 27.80 seconds to win €12,550.

Four other combinations managed to produce double clear rounds, and Britain’s Jake Saywell came closest to Howley’s time aboard Havinia van de Roshoeve in a time of 29.21 seconds. Third place also went to a British rider, with Jodie Hall McAteer guiding Salt’n Peppa to a clear in 30.64 seconds.

Greg Broderick made it through to the jump-off aboard Gretchen Johnson’s Dabelle, but eight faults against the clock kept them out of contention.

“I am absolutely delighted. I was second in ranking class earlier and won the Grand Prix. It’s a fantastic day for my stable and both horses are owned by Sarah Bothwick and myself,” Howley said afterwards.

“I know my horse inside out. He’s very handy against the clock. He can really turn back so you can make a good plan. When it comes off, he’s usually a hard one to catch,” he said about Chinook, adding that the final four-star Grand Prix is his main aim.

MAIN GOAL

“That’s the main goal of the tour of the tour (to win the Invitational Grand Prix). Chinook won’t jump next week, I’ll jump one or two of my other horses in the big classes and spread it out a little bit.”

Howley was the runner-up in the 1.45m ranking class, before the Grand Prix, aboard Farianne to collect €5,000. The pair’s time of 62.57 was just beaten by USA’s Andrew Ramsay and California 62.

GALLAGHER SECOND

Kevin Gallagher, who has joined Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables from Marion Hughes’ stable, finished second in Sunday’s medium tour 1.45m Grand Prix aboard the Noel Cawley-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Hybernia (Flexible x Clover Hill).

The nine-year-old was among 15 clears in the first round and his time of 35.42 seconds against the clock was good enough to slot into the runner-up position behind Spain’s Jacobo Ussia de Garay. USA’s Kerry McCahill, who is trained in Ireland by Broderick, finished third aboard Westbrook.

Broderick picked up a win of his own on Sunday when guiding Rosalie Biedron’s Irish Sport Horse LVS Wizard (Cobra x Diamond Lad) to victory in the 1.30m. He also placed fifth with the eight-year-old Irish-bred Lackamore Storm (Kroongraaf x Indoctro). That combination finished third in Saturday’s 1.35m jump-off class with a double clear round and fourth in Friday’s 1.30m.

Cian O’Connor placed second in Saturday’s 1.45m two-phase aboard Carasina, an eight-year-old mare who is new to his stable. Victory went to Britain’s Max Routledge and Caruso d’Eres Z.

Darragh Ryan was also in action at the Spanish venue, riding under O’Connor’s Karlswood Stables banner, and he placed third in Friday’s 1.40m Table A aboard the 12-year-old gelding Sir Landal Joter.

Kilkenny’s Susan Fitzpatrick finished fourth in Thursday’s one-star seven-year-old class with Keatingstown Gotha de Baudignies, and she was fifth in Friday’s 1.35m Table A aboard Simone.