SLIGO’s Richard Howley won the four-star 1.45m Table A in La Coruña, Spain last Saturday. He guided Sarah Borthwick’s 12-year-old gelding Fame to the fastest of 12 clear rounds in a time of 56.68 seconds to earn the top prize of €8,580.

He beat Britain’s Jack Whitaker and Scenletha into second place when they were just under a second behind in 57.28 seconds, while Frenchman Nicolas Deseuzes placed third with Stella de Preuilly (0/ 59.14).

After winning the three-star Grand Prix the week previous with Consulent de Prelet Z, the pair were looking for a repeat performance in Sunday’s four-star Grand Prix and they were among 13 clears in the first round of the 1.60m competition. A fast time of 44.43 seconds would have been good enough for the runner-up position, but four faults meant they had to settle for ninth place.

Victory stayed on home soil when Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya guided Alamo to the fastest of seven clear rounds against the clock in 43.79 seconds, to land the top prize of just over €31,000. The Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten was second with Elwikke, ahead of Mexico’s Fernando Martinez Sommer with Charlie Harper.