IRISH eyes were most certainly smiling at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI4*-L where Susie Berry and the Irish-bred John The Bull claimed a brilliant third-place podium finish. Earlier this year Berry suffered a broken arm but the 25-year-old rider bounced back to her very best in a field of 90 starters at Blenheim that featured Tokyo Olympic team gold medal winners World No 1 Oliver Townend and team mate Tom McEwen, who also won Tokyo individual silver.

Riding the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding John The Bull, Northhampton-based Berry got off to an excellent start when they scored 27.9 in Friday’s opening dressage phase. This was followed by a perfect clear inside the time in Saturday’s cross-country and they posted another flawless performance in the final show jumping phase.