Hughes placed

KILKENNY’s Marion Hughes had a great outing at the three-star Vilamoura show with a win and two seconds under her belt. Hughes enjoyed a win with HHS Heritage Fortuna in a WHAT CLASS and she was second on HHS Pinky (ISH) at the three-star Vilamoura show in a timed 1.40m competition. Hughes was clear in 55.42, behind Spanish winner David Uson Olaso on Lord du Mont Milon, clear in 54.84. Hughes was also runner-up on Crispien in a timed 1.40m class, clear in 61.20 behind British winner Harriet Nuttall on Silver Lift, clear in 57.58.

Clarke wins GP

CO Meath’s Gerard Clarke won the 1.45m Grand Prix at the two-star Wiener Neustadt show on Rafiki (ISH), clear in 46.32. Ireland’s Sven Hadley (20) and Quanbell were seventh with four faults.

Babington features

TIPPERARY’s Kevin Babington was third on his talented mare Shorapur in the Harrisburg Pennsylvania two-star World Cup Grand Prix last weekend. The event was won by Switzerland’s Beat Mandli on Antares F, double clear in 39.47. Babington was clear in round one but an unfortunate four faults saw him finish third in a time of 39.24. Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney was eighth on Carrabis Z with four faults in round one.

Sweetnam’s bonus

FOR the second consecutive year, Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios won the 2014 Hagyard Challenge Series $50,000 Leading Rider Award in Lexington, Kentucky, while Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam was runner-up in the series, earning a $10,000 bonus award. Barrios’ consistent efforts helped him accumulate 1,420 points, enough to almost double the total of second place finisher, Cork’s Shane Sweetnam on 730 points. Sweetnam won the main prize two years ago.