CLARE’S Philip McGuane showed consistent form at the Old Salem Summer September Show at North Salem, New York last week, which hosted four-star and two-star classes. The highlight of the show (and surely McGuane’s weekend) was the four-star $200,000 Blue Diamond Cup class, in which he secured a podium position and a share of the generous prize fund on board Paso Doble SCF.

There were 19 starters in the class, with only five managing to jump clear round Alan Wade’s (IRL) first-round course and just one competitor completing a double clear round. That deserving winner was Nicolette Hirt-Slade (USA) on Dalton van de Lindehoeve Z, who received $60,000 for her efforts. The remaining four in the jump-off picked up four faults each with McGuane’s time of 40.48 just shy of the 40.16 set by Jonathan McCrea (USA) on Chaccotilino PS, so the latter collected the $40,000 second prize and McGuane took home $30,000 for third.