SHOW JUMPING:THE LONGINES €200,000 International Grand Prix of Ireland with 40 starters saw course builder Alan Wade test the riders with a class which produced only two superb double clear rounds.
Faultless rounds were in short supply as 16 horses had jumped before 62-year-old Lyon rider Michel Robert and Kellemoi de Pepita produced the first clear.
Edward Doyle from Punchestown opened with just four faults on his home-bred stallion Samgemjee’s first major Grand Prix. It was young Alexander Butler with the consistent winner Will Wimble who had a fast four faults in the opening round which saw him go quick enough to make the second round top 10 jump-off.
However it was not until the fourth horse from last, Florida-based Lauren Hough and Quick Study who jumped a perfect clear to put Michel Robert under pressure.
Denis Lynch, Billy Twomey, Cian O’Connor, Edward Doyle all tipped one in the opening round but were not fast enough for the jump-off.
Doyle was first to praise Alan Wade. “It was difficult and tricky, a clever track which took a lot of riding and the horses had to be very careful.”
Winner of the Grand Prix Lauren Hough from Wellington, Florida, was delighted with her success on the Belgian-bred Quick Study which she bought from Henk Nooren.
Hough said: “Dublin has been a fantastic show, the footing was perfect. I am giving my horse a two-week rest now before the Nations Cup show in Rotterdam.”
On Saturday, Rene Tebbel and the chestnut mare Mats Up Du Plessis were victorious for Germany to win the Land Rover Puissance for €12,000 and leave the wall standing at 2m.
Pouring rain may have deterred many, but the excellent footing in the main arena, coupled with riders who do not mind getting wet, made for an excellent Puissance. Ireland is a mecca for high-jump horses and it was little wonder only Germany took on the mighty Irish who fielded 13 riders.
Tebbel, who enjoyed a party later in the Burlington with his jolly team mates, collected a cheque for €12,000 as the only rider to clear the big wall at 2m. Six Irish riders showed their verve by sharing second place and each receiving €3,766 for clearing the wall twice at 1.80m and 1.90m before faulting with a brick each at 2m and leaving Tebbel to scoop the champagne.
Leading Irish rider of the show was Ballina man Alexander Duffy with Courtown. Duffy collected a new Longines watch, a horse rug and sash and attended the Grand Prix Longines conference to collect his awards. His proud father Vincent Duffy, owner of many jumping horses, said: “I am very proud of him. He has really started this year well.”