DERMOTT Lennon landed a four-star victory at Vejer de la Frontera in Spain last Thursday. In what has been an incredible number of weeks for Irish riders and horses teaming up to win big classes, Lennon rode the 12-year-old Aldato mare MJM Pursuit.
Bred by Cyril Ferguson in Co Tyrone and owned by MJM (IOM) Holdings Limited, she is out of the Limmerick mare Mountain Mist. In Thursday’s 1.45m two-phase, Lennon faced a big field of 72 starters and was eventually the fastest of 16 double clear rounds in a time of 31.67 seconds to earn €6,350. Denmark’s Andreas Schou finished second with Afghan (0/ 31.86), ahead of Kim Emmen in third with Warrior’s Glory (0/ 31.17).
Another Irish Sport Horse, Curraghgraigue OBOS Flight (O.B.O.S. Quality x Errigal Flight) finished in fourth place with Britain’s Matthew Sampson. The 13-year-old gelding was bred in Co Tipperary by Baden Powell and the dam, Curraghgraigue Errigal, also bred the multiple National Grand Prix-winning gelding Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight (by Jacomar), ridden by Liam O’Meara.
Later in the day, Lennon guided the Irish-bred, Zangersheide-registered mare Absolutely Kingmar Z to third place in the 1.35m Table A. Owned and bred by Gerry Marron at Kinmar Stud in Co Monaghan, the nine-year-old is by Aganix du Seigneur Z out of Class of Touch Hero (HH Radco), whose dam is Lennon’s 2002 world champion, Liscalgot.
They posted one of 23 clear rounds in 64.47 seconds. Victory went to Kim Emmen with I Love You M (0/ 61.77), while German rider Max Nieberg slotted into second place with Highway FBH (0/ 62.04).
Devine win
Tipperary’s Lauren Divine won Sunday’s 1.30m Accumulator at the Spanish venue. She guided her own Cassandra VL Z to victory in 49.71, with a massive seven seconds to spare over runner-up, Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon aboard the Heather Dean Wright-bred Ard Cluedo (Luidam x Clover Hill).
Nallon, who is now riding with Cameron Hanley’s White Heart Farm, guided Ellie Guy’s 12-year-old Loughnavatta Cedar (ISH)(Luidam x N-Aldato), bred by Rory Costigan, to fourth place in Saturday’s 1.45m two-phase class. Victory went to five-star Australian event rider Christopher Burton and Caliber Royale.
Cork’s Billy Twomey placed sixth in Saturday’s feature 1.50m jump-off class. He guided his own and Sue Davis’ 13-year-old stallion Chat Botte E.D to one of 10 double clear rounds in a time of 40.02 seconds to earn €1,400. Sweden’s Douglas Lindelöw was victorious with Casquo Blue (0/0 38.30).
Jenny Rankin, who rides for Barry O’Connor’s stable, placed seventh in Saturday’s 1.45m Table A when one of 25 clear rounds with the 10-year-old mare Carmela Z, who is owned by Vanessa Mannix and was previously seen under USA’s Catherine Pasmore.