IT has emerged that Horse Sport Ireland could have sold out the corporate side of the recent Jumping in the City twice over, such was the interest in the Friday evening event at Dublin’s Shelbourne Park.

Bookings for the corporate tables were sold out and there was a demand for many more.

“We could have sold out the corporate side of Jumping in the City twice over, there was great demand for tables,” said Horse Sport Ireland’s director of international marketing Elaine Hatton on the night.

Compered by Brendan McArdle of The Irish Field, the colourful event, complete with dancers and fire-eaters, attracted people from all over the country to the capital.

Tipperary’s Greg Broderick duly won The Underwriting Exchange Limited Grand Prix with John Carr’s 11-year-old chesnut stallion Zuidam with a great clear round in 40.07 seconds, claiming the lion’s share of the €15,000 prize money.

Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes came closest to catching him, crossing the line in 40.38 with Can Ya Makan to take the runner-up spot while Cavan’s Neal Fearon and Billy On Time were third (43.46).

The Devenish Puissance saw Co. Tyrone’s Peter Smyth and the Irish Sport Horse Cavalier Rusticana grab the winner’s prize, they were the only combination to clear the wall at its final height of 1.97m (6ft 5’’). Wexford’s Jason Higgins finished as runner-up with Hadine Van’t Zorgvliet.

horsebox

The opening competition at Jumping in the City saw Lusk farmer Paul Carroll score a victory to win the great prize of a fabulous new West Wood/Ifor Williams horsebox in the amateur speed class.

Carroll, fourth-last to go aboard Castleroche Le Roche, posted what proved an unbeatable clear round.

Last year’s amateur winner Joanna Penfold finished in the prizes again, taking the runner-sup sport with her Irish Sport Horse King Cruise, while Grace Lavery was third on the podium with the Irish Sport Horse Flagmount Heir.