STAGED as the first of two international fixtures at the venue, last weekend’s Sema Lease Kilguilkey home international in Co Cork was the scene of a glut of personal bests. Among them was Alex Houston who landed the biggest win of her career in the feature Horse Sport Ireland CCI3*-L, while American rider Gillian Beale-King, aptly riding for title sponsor Richard Ames, celebrated her Independence Day in style by racking up a classy one-two-three in the Eventing Ireland CCI2*-L.

On fire with her string of young horses, Clare Abbott scored a smart double in two of the short format sectors, leaving fellow northern region rider Adam Haugh to pick up his first of his international honours in the third.