IRISH riders continued their excellent run of form at the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, last weekend.

Cork native Billy Twomey got the ball rolling when he landed Thursday’s 1.50m Table A with the 12-year-old mare Frenchy VDS. It was the first outing for the new combination who were the fastest of 33 clear rounds in a big class with 70 starters, crossing the line in 59.24 seconds.

Twomey beat compatriot Eoin Gallagher into second place with the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Over Lux (Lux Z x Cruising) who was bred by Padraic Egan, when clear in 59.67.

Richard Howley scored a four-star win on Friday, in the two-phase 1.45m. Riding a new mount in Berlyle de Vains, he was the best of 32 clear rounds in a time of 33.85. Britain’s Holly Smith finished second aboard Azolette in 33.87, ahead of Germany’s Laura Klaphake with Concollon PS (0/0 34.84). Galway show jumper Jessica Burke slotted into seventh place with Inpulss (0/0 36.68).

Two wins for McAlinden

Daniel McAlinden led the victory lap on two occasions with the Ann Gannon Clancy-bred nine-year-old gelding AHG Whiterock Doctor Cruise (Indoctro x Cruising). They won Friday’s 1.35m two-phase when racing to the fastest clear in 26.85 seconds. McAlinden also slotted into sixth place with the eight-year-old Ultimately Cooley (OBOS Quality x Diamant de Semilly) who was bred by Patrick J Kearns.

AHG Whiterock Doctor Cruise then won Sunday’s 1.35m two-phase. From 46 starters, 12 managed to jump double clear and McAlinden broke the beam in 31.30 seconds to land a second victory ahead of Britain’s Iwan Carpenter and Merllyn’s Chacco B.

Dermott Lennon was runner-up in Thursday’s 1.45m Table A with Rebecca McGoldrick’s 17-year-old mare Fleur IV. The class saw 97 start and 57 produced clear rounds. Lennon’s time of 60.70 seconds was just over a second slower than German winner Laura Klaphake with Bantou Balou OLD (0/ 59.82). Jessica Burke finished seventh with Ashdale Divine.

Lennon and Fleur IV then finished third in the following day’s 1.45m two-phase when producing one of 23 double clears.

Emily Turkington finished fourth in Sunday’s 1.45m jump-off class aboard her own nine-year-old stallion Djumbe d’Amour. She produced one of four clears against the clock in 35.08 seconds. Sean Monaghan finished fifth with Daisy Duggan’s ISH mare EMS Adelaide, picking up four faults in the jump-off. Victory went to Britain’s Lila Bremner and Memphis v/d Vaart.