JENNY Rankin was in the winner’s enclosure last Sunday in the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Olivia when she partnered the Vanessa Mannix and Conor Swail-owned Flower to victory in the three-star 1.45m. One of 58 combinations, the combination beat the challenge of Belgian rider Constant van Paesschen and the stallion Plato de Muze Z by a mere fraction of a second. Rankin stopped the clock in 59.81 to earn €6,375.

Earlier in the week, Rankin had claimed third place in the 1.40m two-phase with Conor Swail’s stallion Lajgaardens Cannavaro. On Sunday, Ella Clancy and Shooting Star secured a third place finish in the Bronze Tour Final 1.40m when they came home clear in 41.24.

Lynch fifth in Doha

TIPPERARY’s Denis Lynch took fifth place in the five-star 1.50m in Doha, Qatar, last Saturday. Riding the 10-year-old stallon Cornets Iberio, he was one of 20 clears, in a time of 61.01. Kildare’s Mikey Pender also delivered a foot-perfect round with HHS Catwalk, but in a slower time of 61.79 for ninth place. Shane Breen finished just outside the top 10 when he came home clear in 62.15 aboard Cuick Star Kervec. On Thursday, Pender was best of the Irish when he secured a ninth-place finish with HHS Catwalk. On Friday, Anthony Condon also secured a top-10 finish in the 1.45m taking 10th place with Zira VH Kapelhof Z after incurring four faults in a time of 68.15.

Hadley on a roll in Spain

GALWAY’s Sven Hadley is on a roll at the two-star show in Valencia, Spain. He won last Thursday’s seven-year-old 1.30m with his home-bred stallion HSH Harper du Seigneur (Aganix du Seigneur x Chippison), when clear in 62.17. Shane Dalton aired on the side of caution with Pacifique Van ‘T Laar and it paid off as he delivered a clear in 67.54 for second place. Hadley was back in the ribbons on Friday, claiming third place with Uidam, when he put in a foot-perfect round in a time of 59.31.

He then added to his haul as he took the win in the 1.35m seven-year-old class with HSH Harper du Seigneur. Dalton also featured in this line-up, slotting into fifth. Hadley ended the week with a win in the seven-year-old 1.35m, once again with the ultra-consistent HSH Harper du Seigneur.

Thomas O’Brien placed

GALWAY’s Thomas O’ Brien finished third in the two-star 1.45m at Peelbergen last Thursday. Riding Belle Ile he was less than a second off the winner when he delivered a clear in 62.21. Also featuring in this line-up was Shane Dwan with Corny 8; he stopped the clock with nothing to add in 63.71.

Merveldt third in Italy

IRELAND’s Anna Merveldt and the 13-year-old Lusitano stallion Esporim scored 69.500% to place third in the Grand Prix at the three-star show in San Giovanni In Marignano, Italy last weekend. James Connor and the 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding Casino Royal placed eighth on 65.848% total. It was a first international outing of the year for both Irish riders. Merveldt was fourth in the Grand Prix Special on 68.319% with Connor scoring 63.064% for sixth place. Italy’s Tatiana Miloserdova and Florento Fortuna scored a double, winning both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special.