TIPPERARY’s Trevor Breen scored Ireland’s only show jumping win at last week’s five-star London International Horse Show.

The West Sussex-based rider guided Harry Whall’s eight-year-old mare Jicarla T to victory in Friday evening’s 1.45m Christmas Pudding Stakes at the London ExCel arena where the show is now held.

Late to go in the class, Breen beat British veteran John Whitaker into second place when posting the winning time of 52.10 seconds to pick up €6,375.

Whitaker was second aboard Green Grass in 52.74, just ahead of Conor Swail who moved on to London after coming to Europe for Geneva the week before. He rode Mannon Farm’s Vital Chance de la Roque to third place in 53.05 seconds.

Breen commented afterwards: “I think I won it by doing six strides to the last instead of seven as I probably did the same as everyone else everywhere else. Jicarla has a huge stride for a small mare so I thought I could go six there and I got it easy. That was the difference.”

Breen has been riding the mare for two years and knows her well.

“She’s naturally very fast. I tried to do a smooth round and not leave strides behind me anywhere. She jumped amazing, I’m so chuffed with her,” he said.

Swail placed

Swail’s best result of the weekend came in Friday’s 1.50m Ivy Stakes when he was runner-up with Mannon Farm’s 15-year-old gelding Count Me In. The pair were among eight double clear rounds, breaking the beam in 32.26, just slower than Britian’s Harry Charles with Billabong du Roumois who was ultra-quick in 30.60.

Thursday’s LeMieux Puissance always attracts a big crowd and it was another good night for the British as two home riders shared first place. Guy Williams (Mr Blue Sky UK) and Joseph Trunkfield (Cruze) both jumped five rounds, clearing 2.15m to share the spoils.