CLAIMING the honours in a class that is fast becoming his own, Co Meath auctioneer John Bannon racked up an unprecedented hat-trick to win the three-year-old potential young event horse championship for the third year in succession.

Modestly describing himself as a hobby producer, Bannon is one of the most astute pin hookers in the game, and this time around he scored with Hugo, a gelding by the young sire Rock ‘n Roll Ter Putte. Placed third after the morning’s presentation phase, Bannon’s charge progressed to put in a professional display of jumping, pushing his overall score into an ultimately unbeatable position.