Michael Duffy third in Valence Grand Prix

GALWAY’s Michael Duffy finished third in the three-star €100,000 Grand Prix in Valence, France last weekend. Riding the 12-year-old gelding Everest D.R, owned by S.A.S. Haras Des Grillons, he was among just three clears in the eight-horse jump-off, completing the course in 40.69 seconds to slot into third and earn €15,000. Victory went to Belgium’s Neils Bruynseels with Matador (0/0 38.08), ahead of his compatriot Wilm Vermier with Enola Gay of Two Notes Z.

Earlier in the week, Duffy was runner-up in a Table A aboard the same owner’s 14-year-old gelding Important De Muze, a former team ride of Darragh Kenny. His clear round against the clock in 36.15 seconds saw him take €5,100 in prize money, behind French winner Jean Luc Mourier.

Orla Duffy wins at Sentower Park

ORLA Duffy won the one-star 1.30m Grand Prix at Sentower Park, Belgium last weekend. She guided Anita Duffy’s eight-year-old mare Oblesse van’t Paradijs to the fastest of four clear rounds in the jump-off, completing the course in 29.99, over a second faster than her nearest challenger, France’s Laure Bertrand with Cedre de Maugre. Duffy also placed third and fourth earlier in the week in 1.25m classes, while her sister Caitlin was also in brilliant form. Caitlin won Sunday’s one-star 1.10m aboard Jockeyhall Midas Touch, after finishing runner-up the previous two days.

Spanish win for Talbot

SWISS-based Kildare show jumper Niall Talbot won a two-star 1.30m in Oliva, Spain last weekend. He guided the nine-year-old mare Doris de L’Oiseliere to victory in a time of 59.05 seconds, and also finished fourth with Deep Sea Semilly (0/ 66.37).

At her first abroad international show since becoming an army officer, Michaeli Byrne was runner-up in a 1.45m with the Minister for Defence’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding MHS Gabhran (by Cardento and bred by Michael Brennan). The pair were one of three clears in the jump-off, crossing the finish line in 46.04 to earn €5,100. Victory went to Slovakia’s Gaj Riossa.

Seamus Hughes Kennedy was runner-up in the one-star 1.40m Grand Prix aboard Clare Hughes’ eight-year-old ISH mare Castlefield Hera (Plot Blue x Puissance), bred by Jim O’Neill.