SHOWJUMPING:FORMER WORLD showjumping champion Dermott Lennon from Banbridge, Co Down, was in flying form when he and the mare Loughview Lou Lou won the €20,000 Speed Derby from 32 starters for the second year in succession yesterday.
Owner Judith Sossick’s incredible winning mare by Hillsborough stallion Limmerick staved off a challenge from French ace Roger-Yves Bost with Lady Forbes’s stallion Castleforbes Vivaldo.
Limmerick-sired youngsters can do no wrong, and it was another progeny, Victoria Rose, which came a close third with Peter Smyth from Strabane in the saddle.
Conor Swail and Dromma, owned by Chinook Valley Inc,couldn’t catch any of them but produced a fast time of 86.53 for fourth place. Capt David O’Brien, with the brilliant grey mare Mo Chroi by Cruising, a former Dublin Grand Prix winner, stayed in the prize fund at seventh place, as did Trevor Breen on Karen Swann’s Adventure De Kannan in 11th.
US-based Kilkenny rider Richie Moloney occupied 12th place.
The Knight Frank Speed Stakes provided great entertainment mid-afternoon as Olympic champion Steve Guerdat showed his class to win on the highly acclaimed Jalisca Solier, owned by watch manufacturer Yves G Piaget. Guerdat, who steps out for the Swiss Nations Cup team today, took home €7,590.
Speed specialist Lennon continued his success with a foot-perfect round on Hallmark Elite in 64.30 to finish runner-up for €4,600, beating British veteran John Whitaker who was on his wife Clare’s stallion Argento.
Once again, Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes, on the home-bred mare Heritage HHS Fortuna, showed a clean pair of heels in 65.88 for fourth place, adding to her tally from her opening-day win. Capt O’Brien and Annestown were the next highest-placed Irish in 12th.
Irish showjumping manager Robert Splaine’s Aga Khan team for today includes Clement McMahon, making his Dublin debut on his stallion Pacino. Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor rides his Greenwich star Blue Lloyd, while Richie Moloney has Ahorn van de Zuuthoeve.
Sligo rider Darragh Kerins also returned from the US and has been selected with Lisona, a horse bred by Capt John Ledingham in Enfield.
As the eighth starters, Robert Splaine’s team could not have wished for a better placing in the FEI Nations Cup draw.