DERRY’S David Simpson on Ovidius Vd Donkhoeve finished best of the Irish with a podium position in Sunday’s three-star 1.50m Grand Prix at Oliva in Spain, when placing third with a double clear round in a jump-off time of 40.72.

There were 51 starters in the class, with 11 of those jumping clear and securing their place in the jump-off. Eight combinations managed to go double clear, with the fastest of those being the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Iron Dames Just A Dream, bred by Jimmy Lawler in Co Kilkenny, ridden by Germany’s Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann in a jump-off time of 38.09 seconds. Belgium’s Axel Vandoorne and Kaline de Fremis placed second in the class.

Placings

Week three of the Spring Mediterranean Equestrian Tour III was held last week. On Tuesday, Floortje Deckers on Estoril BW was among the clear rounds in the six-year-old 1.25m class, while Francis Connors on Newmarket Darsouilles was clear in the seven-year-old 1.35m class.

On Wednesday, David Simpson on Billy Whiskey was runner-up in the MET Young Horse Champion Trophy seven-year-old class, while Connors on Newmarket Darsouilles placed ninth in the seven-year-old 1.40m final.

Thursday’s Gold 1.30m class saw Simpson finish eighth with Foudre F, with a clear round in 62.74, while on Friday, Trevor Breen on ABC Cortana Cruise placed ninth in the Silver 1.25m two-phase class, when he jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 33.39.

Simpson on Billy Fern placed 10th in the Gold 3 1.40m class and, in the Silver 2 1.40m class, Breen placed fifth on board Konrad Obolensky. Breen then placed eighth in the Gold 2 1.35m class on Check Paris PS.

The Bronze 2 1.20m class saw Jenny Connors on Fortnight placing sixth of the 72 starters.

In Saturday’s Bronze 2 1.20m jump-off class, Robert Splaine rode Cambridge into second place, jumping double clear in a jump-off time of 32.58, while in the Bronze 3 1.30m Accumulator class, Jenny McBride placed seventh on Nadal.

The Grand Prix-winning horse was previously ridden by Waterford’s Francis Connors, who was also in attendance at the show and rode Carrigshawn Vendi Royal (ISH) into the runner-up position in Sunday’s Gold 2 1.45m two-phase class when double clear in a phase two time of 28.13.

The day’s Bronze 2 1.20m class saw Jenny Connors on Fortnight taking fifth place.