FOR the third year in a row, the luck of the Irish prevailed at the Silver Oak jumper tournament at Fieldstone in New England, with Paul O’Shea winning the class for the second time.

The Limerick-born rider won this competition in 2013 and came back this year to not only win the $75,000 Agero Grand Prix but also take second place ahead Olympian McLain Ward in third. O’Shea’s win came aboard the 10 year old Irish Sport Horse stallion Skara Glen’s Dolphin, who is by Heartbreaker out of a Concorde Mare called ISHD First Chance, who is also the dam of the stallion Clinton Jack ridden by Dermott Lennon.

Ward had set the target aboard HH Ashley when clear in 45.28 seconds, however O’Shea riding the Michael Hayden-owned Primo De Revel, with whom he had finished third in 2014 behind fellow Irishman Kevin Babington, comfortably moved into the lead, stopping the clock in 42.74. Full of confidence following a win at the Dublin Horse Show the week before, O’Shea then went even quicker (42.68) with his second mount Skara Glen’s Dolphin to score a one-two finish.

“I’ve been really lucky in this class,” said O’Shea, who also filled sixth place with the eight-year-old Primo Calypso, “It feels great. All of my horses jumped super, they couldn’t have gone any better and I’m very happy with them”. O’Shea also finished as runner-up in the seven-year-old final at Fieldstone aboard Skara Glen’s Presence, with victory going to Kevin Babbington riding Super Chilled.