ONCE again claiming the honours in a class that she is fast making her own, Co Wexford’s Ciara O’Connor recorded her third successive win in the opening junior/young rider event horse class. Riding the hot favourite and last year’s winner Ashwood Rio, O’Connor delivered another masterclass performance with the seven-year-old and was never headed.

As they did 12 months ago, the pair made an early impression on judges Padraig McCarthy together with former German event team coach Hans Melzer, both of whom scored them highly in Wednesday’s evening session. This advantage was increased further in the main arena on Thursday morning where, immaculate once again, they eventually headed the 16 runners on 91.3.