Irish make their mark in Florida

EQUESTRIAN SPORT: Ireland's show jumpers have already been making their mark on the American circuit in Florida, with Conor …

EQUESTRIAN SPORT:Ireland's show jumpers have already been making their mark on the American circuit in Florida, with Conor Swail in particularly prominent form, writes Grania Willis.

The 35-year-old Malahide-based rider, winner of last year's Boswell Equestrian national Grand Prix league, picked up a third place finish with Nepomuk in Thursday's feature speed class at the Wellington fixture and then brought out the same horse to claim third in the main jump-off class, the Nutrena/Western Hay Wellington Classic.

Honours in that went to Canada's Eric Lamaze, with his compatriot Ian Millar in the runner-up spot, less than half a second faster than Co Down born Swail. Shane Sweetnam and Michael Kearins also notched up second placings in the speed classes.