Dore wins Pony Grand Prix at Belgian CSI Youth show

OPGLABBEEK in Belgium has always proved popular with Irish riders, and it’s easy to see why as they featured in the majority of line-ups last week at the CSI Youth Show.

On Saturday, 14-year-old Kian Dore had much to celebrate as he claimed victory in the CSIP 1.30m Grand Prix.

The Limerick rider partnered the eight-year-old gelding Sparkling Lackaghmore Joey to a clear in a time of 32.97. In total 56 combinations went to post and from those, 10 booked their place in the jump-off, where just five double clears were delivered.

Irish riders started the week off well with a series of good placings. On Thursday, Conor McLaughlin secured a sixth place finish in the Prijs Domus Farm - CSIJ-A 1.35m when he partnered Kilbarron Rue to a clear in 27.89. On Saturday, the pair were back in the line-up in the 1.35m, claiming fourth place when clear in 63.34.

On Thursday, Ellen Power was best of the Irish contingent in the 1.20m when she delivered a clear with Carrigeen Moores in a time of 27.07 for fifth place. Further down the line in eighth were Emily Moloney and Castlehill Titan in 27.28.

On Friday, Tommy Hafford took the runner-up spot with the stallion Greenvale Draco in the CSIJ-A Two Phases Special 1.25m when they put in a foot-perfect round in a time of 27.03. Annie Gibson also featured in this line-up taking fourth with Dasca van het Vijverbos when she was clear in 28 seconds.

Later in the day, Irish riders returned to the line-up in the CSIP Table A 1.25m. Best of those was Sadhbh Slattery and Altanta who was narrowly beaten when she delivered a clear in 64.24. One place behind in third was Maisie Adams and Lexius E van het Juxschot, also clear but in a slower time of 66.48. Annie Boland accounted for sixth place with Jimtown, clear in 70.39, ahead of Kian Dore and Sparkling Lackaghmore Joey in 71.20.

In the CSICh-A Two Phases Special 1.25m, Emily Moloney finished in eight place with GVS Goodwins Queen when clear in 28.35.

Saturday morning began well for the Irish riders with Tom Jolly taking fourth place in the CSIJ-A Table A 1.30m. Riding the Irish Sport Horse Churchtown Quality Breeze, he was one of five double clears in a time of 77.95. One place behind and delivering the last double clear in a time of 80.17 was Bridin Doyle who was riding the Catherine Walsh-owned Boleybawn Rigaletto.

Aisling McGuinness put in a solid performance in the CSIU25-A Table A 1.35m when she slotted into third place with Kilderrys Joint Venture. The pair were less than a second off the winner when they came home clear in 58.75.

In the CSIJ-A 1.40m Grand Prix, Seamus Hennessy recorded a 10th place finish when he had one down in the jump-off with King Louis in a time of 39.59. In Sunday’s CSIU25-A 1.45m Grand Prix, Abigail Boland was best of the Irish when she took ninth place in the line-up. The Wexford rider was unlucky to pick up a single time fault in the first round.