DERRY’S Daniel Coyle ran away with first and second place in the three-star 1.60m Grand Prix at International Bromont held at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park last Sunday.

Course designer Michel Vaillancourt prepared a difficult course for the final Grand Prix of the show. Eight combinations made it through to the jump-off, including Coyle with his two mounts and Tipperary’s Kevin Babington was also double handed against the clock.

Coyle was fourth to go in the jump-off aboard Ariel Grange’s brilliant mare Cita and broke the beam with nothing to add in a time of 37.12 seconds. Coyle then produced the second best time with Grange’s nine-year-old gelding Farrel to make it an Irish one-two. With $44,121 for victory and $26,740 for the runner-up place, Coyle left the Canadian venue with 53% of the prize money and a happy man.

Canada’s Jill Henselwood finished in third place with Eblesse (0/0 44.61), ahead of compatriot Stevie Murphy and Ebab RK, who had set the standard with a clear in 45.25 when first to go.

Babington and Shorapur had a time (38.52) which was good enough for second place but a pole on the floor meant he had to settle for fifth place and just over $8,000.

He guided the 11-year-old Gelvin Clover-sired Irish Sport Horse Super Chilled to sixth place, also faulting once against the clock in 40.37 seconds.

Babington victory

Babington got a victory of his own in the previous day’s 1.50m with the brilliant 14-year-old mare Shorapur, who is owned by Shorapur LLC. Just four combinations managed to produce a clear round inside the time in the Table A class and Babington’s time of 35.15 seconds against the clock was good enough for victory and $9,000.