IRISH show jumping riders continued their great run of form on Sunday with two impressive results in five-star Grand Prix competitions on both sides of the Atlantic.

At Ottawa, Canada, Co Down’s Conor Swail and Vital Chance De La Roque scored a runner-up finish in the $215,000 five-star Grand Prix, coming just a week after Swail also finished second in the Longines Grand Prix of Ireland at the Dublin Horse Show.

Just four of the 28 starters jumped clear in the first round, with Swail jumping clear again against the clock in a time of 36.42 seconds. The winner's prize went to Kent Farrington (USA) and Orafina who stopped the clock clear in 35.75.

Meanwhile at the Stephex Masters in Belgium, Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and the 13-year-old gelding Brooklyn Heights finished fourth in the five-star Rolex Grand Prix. One of seven combinations to make it into the jump-off, Lynch went clear again in the second round in a time of 33.66. Victory went to Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and Catch Me Not S with a clear in 32.61.

The results came less than 24 hours after Kildare’s Mikey Pender claimed his first ever five-star Grand Prix win with a spectacular victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard in The Netherlands with the Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais.

Eventing

Closer to home. Millstreet International Horse Trials in Co Cork saw an Irish winner in the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored CCI4*-L. Sian Coleman and the Irish Sport Horse Hush A Bye Baby, bred by Kate Jarvey, took the top prize with a score of 35.3, just ahead of British runner-up Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon (ISH) who finished second on 35.9.

Breeding details

Hush A Bye Baby (ISH) – 2003 mare by Indoctro (HOLST) out of Rock Me Baby (AEAS) by Rock King (WNTR). Breeder/Owner: Kate Jarvey, Co. Cork. Rider: Sian Coleman (IRL).

KEC Deakon (ISH) – 2010 gelding by Chacoa (HOLST) out of KEC Hotfoot (ID) by Glidawn Diamond (ID). Breeder: Anna Kennedy (Kerry). Rider: Aaron Millar (GBR)

HHS Calais (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) out of MHS OBOS Cruise (ISH) by OBOS Quality (OLD). Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).