KILDARE’s Niall Talbot finished third in the 1.45m two-star Grand Prix in Oliva, Spain, last Sunday, where a number of Irish riders have made their way to the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour.

Riding Jean-Claude Engisch’s 12-year-old gelding Caracter (Carano x Liatos), Swiss-based Talbot was one of seven double clears, in a time of 41.26 seconds, to take third position and €4,500. The class was won by France’s Julien Epaillard with Toupie de La Roque (0/0 39.53), ahead of Belgium’s Constant van Paesschen and Compadre van de Helle (0/0 40.26).

Denis Lynch also picked up a third place finish in Sunday’s two-star 1.40m with RMF Corvich (Caretino x Sir Shostakovich) (0/ 62.79), just one place ahead of Frank Curran and Heffron Equine’s Irish Sport Horse Oliver Twister (Oliver x Don Juan de la Bouverie) in 63.94 seconds.

Tyrone-based Curran also featured in Saturday’s 1.30m with Oliver Twister, slotting into second in a time of 61.82, behind Portugal’s Rodrigo Sampaio Peixoto and Astona (0/ 59.94). He was placed fifth in the 1.35m with Morris Smyth’s ISH mare Elamo Luz Like A Real One.

Cameron Hanley picked up a €2,000 when taking second in Saturday’s 1.45m jump-off aboard Aiyetoro (Concorde x Colino), with a double clear in 37.18 behind Brazilian winner Pedro Veniss and Anaya Ste Hermelle (0/0 37.02).

Hanley’s son Finn was also in the ring in Spain, finishing second in Sunday’s one-star 1.10m with Lexicon 5 (0/0 26.49). Kildare-based Neal Fearon was fifth with his and Paul Murphy’s six-year-old gelding Guess (Eldorado van de Zeshoel TN x Clearway).

Marshall win

HARRY Marshall won last Sunday’s three-star 1.40m class in Vilamoura, Portugal, with the 10-year-old stallion Chirokko M (Diamant de Semilly x Chin Chin).

Marshall had to be content with sharing the top prize and collecting €900 when he finished in a dead-heat with Britain’s Chloe Aston in 51.48 seconds.