Cameron Hanley runner-up in Spanish Grand Prix

A RUNNER-up finish in the three-star Grand Prix in Oliva, Spain, was pleasing for Mayo native Cameron Hanley as it marked a first big result since returning to the saddle following a six-month injury lay-off.

German-based Hanley guided the brilliant Irish Sport Horse ESI Toulouse to second place in Sunday’s 1.50m Grand Prix behind French winner Julien Epaillard on the nine-year-old mare Cheyenne d’Auge.

Thirteen pairs out of the 54 who started cleared the first-round track set, but only five of them could keep the fences intact in the jump-off and produce a double-clear result. USA’s Rebecca Conway on Con Coleur delivered the first double clear of the class with a time of 47.35 in the jump-off, but was soon overtaken by Julien Epaillard on Cheyenne d’Auge who stopped the clock on 44.39 – a time that no one after him could match.

Hanley and ESI Toulouse (SIEC Livello x Quasimodo van de Molendreef) got close with a classy clear in 45.21, but had to settle for second place. Mexico’s Fernando Martinez Sommer finished third with Cor Bakke, while Ireland’s Harold Megahey on Kingston (Ustinov x Insider) took the fifth spot with a double clear in 49.39 seconds.

Delighted

Hanley was out of the saddle for six months from February to August when he suffered an injury while jumping the five-star Grand Prix in Doha back in February. The 10-year-old ESI Toulouse, who was bred by Cian O’Connor at Ennisnag Stud in Co Kilkenny, was ridden by Mayo young rider Ciaran Nallon while Hanley was on the sidelines.

“Now we are back, and that is what I came to this tour for; to build up the horse again,” Hanley said. “That’s why I am so happy about the result today, it all finished just as I wanted.

“I thought the course was big and difficult, the time allowed was fair, so there were enough clear rounds. I think the course building has been excellent all the time during the tour; a big compliment to the course builders. Julien is just incredible. I just went as fast as I could go and tried to execute my plan.”

Hanley thinks a lot of the Irish-bred. “I have owned Toulouse since he was four. I love this horse; we have a very good connection. I know him really well and he knows me. It makes it all the sweeter to get a good result with a horse you’ve spend so long time with.”

Speaking about the tour in Oliva, he added: “I have gone more into the direction of training and teaching and my student Clara Hallundbaek was also clear in the Grand Prix today.

“I get just as much of a buzz watching her do well as I do myself. Here at the MET, the showground is designed so well. It is just a great place to come to, I always look forward to returning here.”

Win for Jason Foley

Also in Oliva, Carlow’s Jason Foley and the Irish Sport Horse Keatingstown Z Wellie Two scored an excellent win in Sunday’s three-star 1.45m jump-off class. One of five combinations to make it into the jump-off, they completed a flawless second round in 35.48 seconds to finish over a second ahead of Belgium’s Jérôme Guery with Nerio de la Haute Bruyeres (0/0 36.81).

The 10-year-old gelding by Z Wellie 72 was bred and is owned by Sharon Fitzpatrick, whose daughter Susan produced the gelding to this level.