IRELAND’s Conor Swail made a winning start to the 2022-2023 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup season, taking victory with Vital Chance de la Roque in last night’s (Saturday) opening leg in Sacramento (USA) – a venue where the Irishman also proved unbeatable 12 months ago.

“[Vital Chance] has had an incredible year. Every time I ride him, I know he’s going to give me a good shot [to win]. The two of us just seem to have a good partnership. Today, he jumped so well," said Swail.

Olaf Petersen, Jr’s (GER) course proved tough to navigate, and a clear round was not produced until Swail cracked the code 19 riders into the starting order. The jump-off field would ultimately consist of just three, and Swail put his competitors away with a second clear effort in a sharp time of 38.19 seconds, impressing with two bold inside turns. No one could match him, but a duo of rising talent followed him on the podium, with 20-year-old Sophia Siegel (USA) and A-Girl second (4/50.02 seconds) and Natalie Dean (USA) third with Chance Ste Hermelle (8/43.65).

“When you go first [in a jump-off of this size], you’re either first, second or third. I’d prefer to be first, and I wanted to try to put it away early,” Swail said. “I was going to do what my strengths are. My plan was to be fast [and not] leave the door open.”

Swail collected 20 points for his victory and has taken an early lead in the North American League standings. Siegel sits second with 17 points, and Dean is third with 15 points. Seven legs remain through March and the North American League continues at the Washington International Horse Show, Upper Marlboro, USA on October 29th.

HOYS update

Meanwhile, Irish riders and horses continue to shine at the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC, Birmingham. Commandant Geoff Curran and Bishops Quarter delighted a sell out crowd to take the Puissance honours on Saturday night. Curran, making his first visit to HOYS, jumped with effortless ease to be the last pair standing when they cleared 7ft 2 and a quarter inches in the fifth and final round beating welshman Mark Edwards to the title.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be here and to win it, was very very special. He finds jumping big very easy. The first few rounds are all about keeping him as relaxed as possible. He is very very brave. It (the atmosphere) was amazing, my family is here and they will have enjoyed it anyway. I'll be back next year please God," said Commdt Curran afterwards in an interview with Lloyd Bell Productions.

Galway's Jessica Burke's dream debut at HOYS continued on Saturday as she won her second class of the week with her horse Inpulss. The pair produced a brilliant round in the Accumulator to score a maximum 44 points and a brilliantly quick time which saw her come home just a second quicker than Mark Edwards in second. The British-based Galway rider gave up her job as a maths teacher three years ago to pursue her show jumping ambitions. Based at Louisa Church's Arion Stud, UK, a sell-out crowd of over 7,000 people saw Burke complete her double.

Earlier in the week, Sligo's Richard Howley took the first international show jumping class of the week, riding Fame to produce a lightning quick round to secure victory in the two phase class.

Howley, who won two classes with this horse at the Dublin Horse Show in August, came home over half a second quicker than Annabel Shields on Wet Wet Wet.

Source on Longines FEI World Cup opening round: Horse Sport Ireland press release

Source on HOYS: HOYS and Lloyd Bell Productions.