CLARE’S David Blake finished on the podium in the $65,000 two-star Old Salem Grand Prix on Saturday, when he and Max Van De Marijenhoeve (Hermantico x Brunette) jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 37.16 to claim third place.

Old Salem Farm course designer Oscar Soberon came up with a technical 16-effort, 1.45m course to finish the week’s FEI competition. The start list of 33 produced 15 clear first rounds to ensure a jump-off, with 10 combinations managing to remain clear at their second attempt. Blake rode Jill Shulman’s nine-year-old gelding flawlessly and finished less than a second behind the winner, Brian Moggre (USA) on the eight-year-old gelding Johann FS Z, who was among the first to tackle the shortened course and set a time of 36.32, which secured him the $16,250 top prize.