IRELAND’S Niall Talbot made a good start at the two-star show at Gorla Minore in Italy, when he was runner-up in Friday’s two-star 1.40m class riding Doris De L’Oiseliere, with a clear round in a time of 59.51 seconds. Germany’s Sonke Aldinger on Crockett WZ won the class in 58.85.

Talbot secured fourth place in the day’s two-star 1.35m two-phase class on FTS Elliott, when they jumped double clear in a phase two time of 30.68. It was very close at the top, with the win going to Switzerland’s Jean-Maurice Brahier on the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, Ardkyle First Edition, just over a second ahead in 29.67.

Talbot also won the one-star 1.30m class on Friday on board Deep Sea Semilly. The pair rode a super-quick clear round in 60.90 seconds – their nearest challenger was France’s Elisa Gacon on Evidence De Melville, who were almost four seconds behind in 64.68. Third place went to Coralie Maitre (SUI) on Ovita VD Bisschop (65.26). Talbot also claimed fourth place in the class with Helios CH (66.71).

Saturday saw Talbot place seventh in the two-star 1.45m speed class with Doris De L’Oiseliere. From 44 starters, there were just nine who jumped clear to proceed to the jump-off, where only four secured double clears.

Talbot and his mount incurred four faults second time out in a time of 37.56 to finish in seventh place.

The rider then went on to take sixth place in the two-star 1.40m two-phase class on H’Ayla Verano, jumping double clear in a phase two time of 29.08. The win went to Italy’s Giampiero Garofalo on Stakalite (27.44).

Talbot was back on top of the podium, winning Sunday’s one-star 1.30m speed class with Deep Sea Semilly, when jumping double clear in a jump-off time of 41.60. The pair were more than half a second ahead of their nearest challenger Rodrigue Desmoules (FRA) on Hello Boy De Reville (42.13).

There was another podium finish for Talbot in the two-star 1.35m Accumulator class, this time riding FTS Elliott into third place, when they scored the maximum 65 points in a time of 50.53. Class winner Brahier (SUI) on Ardkyle First Edition (ISH) stopped the clock in 49.81.

Talbot and Doris De L’Oiseliere took fifth place in the day’s two-star 1.40m speed class, with a double clear round in a jump-off time of 33.20 – just over a second behind Swiss winner Pius Schwizer on Defi De La Roque (32.01).