CLARE's Eoin McMahon has scored one of the biggest wins of his career, after he came out on top in today’s (Sunday) 1.55m Volkswagen three-star Grand Prix at Braunschweig in Germany. Riding the Madeleine Winter-Schulze-owned Chacon 2, McMahon came out on top after a 13-horse jump-off to take the winner's prize of a new car valued at over €43,000. A brilliant jump-off round saw him finish almost three seconds clear of German runner-up Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking with Querido.

David Blake and Pine Hollow's Keoki, fifth in the $401,000 Douglas Elliman Estate five-star Grand Prix at WEF

Blake placed in Grand Prix

Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, another Clare rider was in excellent form in Saturday’s $401,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate five-star Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. David Blake partnered the Pine Hollow Farm-owned Keoki to a fifth place finish. They jumped clear in the first round but narrowly missed out on a place in the jump-off when exceeding the time allowed by just .03 of a second. Victory went to Ashlee Bond (ISR) with Donatello.

Back in Europe, it was an Irish one-two in the 1.45m Medium Tour Grand Prix at Vejer de la Frontera in Spain. Carlow’s Jason Foley took victory after a double clear round with Madorada, while Tipperary’s Max Wachman also jumped double clear with Sea Coast Atlantic to finish as runner-up.

Irish Sport Horses dominated the three-star 1.45 speed class at the same venue. Co Down’s Dermott Lennon took victory with MJM Pursuit (ISH) while fourth place went to Mikey Pender with HHS Javas Gucci (ISH). Alexander Butler also took sixth place for Ireland with Pico (ISH). The feature three-star Grand Prix in Vejer saw Waterford’s Anthony Condon take fourth place with SFS Vincomte behind British winner Holly Smith riding Hearts Destiny.

At Valencia in Spain, Mayo’s Alex Duffy and the Irish Sport Horse FTS Killossery Konfusion (ISH) took runner-up spot in the three-star Grand Prix. They finished just under a second behind French winner Aurelien Leroy with Vendome d’Ick.

Breeding

MJM Pursuit (ISH) – 2009 bay mare by Aldato (KWPN) out of Mountain Mist (ISH), by Limmerick (HOLST). Bred by Cyril Ferguson, Co. Tyrone. Owner: MJM Holdings Limited. Rider: Dermott Lennon (IRL)

HHS Javas Gucci (AKA Javas Gucci) (ISH) – 2012 stallion by Luidam (KWPN) out of Javas Honey (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Judy Murphy, Co. Louth. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd and Michael Pender. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).

FTS Killossery Konfusion (ISH) – 2010 gelding by SIEC Livello (HOLST) out of Killossery Kruisette (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)(TIH). Bred by Frank and Laura Glynn, Co Dublin, owned by Niall Talbot & Nicola FitzGibbon

Source: Horse Sport Ireland press release