Hughes Bravo wins CSI1* Madrid Grand Prix

FROM six starts in the one-star classes at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid, Kilkenny’s Marta Hughes-Bravo won two classes, finished second, third and seventh, culminating with victory in the one-star Grand Prix with her mother Marion Hughes’ home-bred gelding HHS Figero (Guidam x Cavalier Royale).

In the competitive class, she was fastest of five clears in the seven-horse jump-off in a time of 29.39 seconds to earn €5,000. The previous day, Hughes-Bravo won the 1.25m Table A aboard Miss Belgium, while HHS Figero was runner-up in the 1.40m.

Jenny Rankin placed in Germany

JENNY Rankin finished fifth in the three-star 1.55m Grand Prix at München-Riem in Germany. Riding Barry O’Connor and Elizabeth Phillips’ 10-year-old gelding Imar, Rankin was one of five clears in the first round and keep a clean sheet in the jump-off, in a time of 61.54 seconds, to finish fifth and earn €3,682. Victory went to Germany’s Michael Kolz with Cellato, clear in 55.50 seconds.

Irish placed at Bourg-en-Bresse

AT the four-star show in Bourg-en-Bresse, France Mark McAuley and Richard Howley each recorded two top 10 placings. On Thursday, Howley was third in the 1.50m ranking class with Mansini Ltd, owned by HK Horses.

McAuley went one better on Friday, claiming second place with Jasco Vd Bisschop, owned by S.n.c. McAuley, in the 1.50m ranking class. In Sunday’s 1.55m Grand Prix, both Irish riders finished within the top 10. McAuley was seventh with Jasco Vd Bisschop and Howley was eighth with the HK Horses-owned Consulent De Prelet Z.