IRISH show jumping riders recorded an impressive run of results at the weekend, with a string of wins across Europe and North America.

Ireland was represented at the prestigious World Equestrian Festival in Aachen by Olympian’s Bertram Allen and Darragh Kenny, with both riders claiming major wins. Offaly-born Kenny began the week by taking victory with Crispo R in the Sparkassen-Youngsters Cup and followed this up with another Aachen win with Volnay du Boisdeville in the 1.50m competition.

On Friday Wexford’s Bertram Allen also took a five-star win at the Aachen venue. Riding the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding FTS Killossery Konfusion, Allen finished half a second ahead of his nearest challenger in the 1.45m two phase class.

Winners of the five-star fixture in Traverse City, Michigan, USA, Limerick’s Paul O’Shea and Squirt Gun

Top three placings

Meanwhile at the five-star fixture in Traverse City, Michigan, USA, Limerick’s Paul O’Shea and Squirt Gun led an Irish 1-2-3 in the 1.50m winning round. Shane Sweetnam and Indra van de Oude Heihoef finished second while Cormac Hanley and RMF Chacco Top also took third place for Ireland.

Paul O’Shea was also best of the Irish in the 1.60m Grand Prix and landed a runner-up finish with Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu while Andrew Bourns and the Irish Sport Horse Sea Topblue finished fifth.

Conor Swail and Count Me In take a victory lap after winning the ATB Financial Cup on Saturday of the Spruce Meadows ‘North American’, presented by Rolex © Spruce Meadow

Co Down’s Conor Swail continued his impressive run of results at Spruce Meadows in Canada by taking victory in Saturday’s ATB Financial Cup Winning Round. Riding the 14-year-old gelding Count Me In, Swail took the top prize with the fastest clear in a 10-horse jump-off.

This was the second win for Swail and Count Me In this season at Spruce Meadows, after having also won the Cardel Homes Jumper Cup on the opening day of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ CSI 5*, presented by Rolex, two weeks ago.

Michael Duffy and Jeff Ten Halven won the 1.55m jump-off class at St Tropez in France \ Hubside Jumping

Galway’s Michael Duffy also recorded a five-star win at the weekend when he guided the 12-year-old gelding Jeff Ten Halven to victory in the 1.55m jump-off class at St Tropez in France.

In the feature Grand Prix in St Tropez, Co Louth’s Mark McAuley and Jasco Vd Bisschop finished as runners-up, while Michael Duffy also made it into the jump-off and finished sixth aboard Jeff Ten Halven. Victory went to Egypt’s Abdel Said and Bandit Savoie.

At Bonheiden in Belgium, Sligo’s Richard Howley and Arlo De Blondel claimed victory in Saturday’s two-star Grand Prix after a 12-horse jump-off.

Breeding

FTS Killossery Konfusion (ISH) – 2010 gelding by SIEC Livello (HOLST) out of Killossery Kruisette (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: F & L Glynn, Killossery Lodge Stud, Co. Dublin. Owner: Niall Talbot and Nicola FitzGibbon.

Sea Topblue (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Chacco Blue (MECKL) out of Sea Top Lady (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeders: James & John Meade, Co. Clare. Owner: Deirdre Bourns. Rider: Andrew Bourns (IRL).