KILKENNY’s Séamus Hughes Kennedy is in flying form on the international circuit and finished off an excellent week in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, with a four-star Small Tour Grand Prix victory last Sunday.

Hughes Kennedy guided Clare Hughes’ 11-year-old mare Cuffesgrange Cavadora (Z Wellie 71 x Luidam) to win Sunday’s 1.45m jump-off class at the venue. Bred by Eamonn Sheehan, the pair were among 16 to jump clear in the first round from 67 starters.

A competitive jump-off saw 11 go clear against the clock and Hughes Kennedy was the fastest of those in 38.63 seconds. He saw off Uruguay’s Marcelo Chirico Ferreira with Deluxe du Plasson (0/0 39.26), while Britain’s Nicole Lockhead Anderson finished third with Catino 10 (0/0 39.69).

On the same day, Hughes Kennedy finished runner-up in the 1.35m two-phase aboard the Jim O’Neill-bred Castlefield Hera (Plot Blue x Puissance). The pair were clear against the clock in 21.34secs, almost two seconds slower than Nicole Lockhead Anderson who won aboard the seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Emerald Irish Cruise (Ringfort Cruise x Mount Diamond Flag).

Hughes Kennedy also won the one-star Grand Prix, this time with ESI Ali, an eight-year-old mare by Stakkato Gold who was bred by Ennisnag Stud in Co Kilkenny.

Lennon winner

Dermott Lennon also won a four-star class on Sunday. Riding the Irish Sport Horse mare All Pleasure Hero II Z, he raced to victory in the Big Tour 1.45m.

Owned and bred by Horse Invest Ltd HPBNL, the nine-year-old is by Aganix du Seigneur Z out of Calgot Pleasure (For Pleasure), who is a daughter of Lennon’s former world champion Liscalgot.

The mare, who has a superb record, was the fastest of 45 double clears in the 85-strong class, clear in 60.05 seconds. She was also third twice earlier in the week.

Riding the Gerry Marron and Luc Henry-bred L’Esprit Hero Z (Lexicon x For Pleasure), Lennon was fourth in Friday’s 1.45m two-phase class with a clear round in 23.85secs, where victory went to Kevin Jochems and Catch Me 63.

Young rider Niamh McEvoy was also in action at the venue and she finished third in Friday’s four-star 1.40m with Richard McEvoy’s 11-year-old gelding Haifa O.L when clear in 29.36 seconds.

Victory went to Spain’s Julio Arias Cueva with Never Alone (0/27.47). The pair were then sixth in Saturday’s 1.45m.

Riding the GBBS Int LTD-owned and bred six-year-old mare BP Tiny Dancer, McEvoy was second in Thursday’s six-year-old 1.20m Table A.

Co Meath’s Alexander Butler was third in Saturday’s four-star 1.50m with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Pico, by Carrolls Flight, who was bred by Norman Allen.

He produced one of 16 clears in 28.94 seconds. Victory went to Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs with S.M Che Tipa (0/28.68).

Grand Prix winner

Britain’s Matthew Sampson won the four-star 1.55m Grand Prix at the venue on Sunday with his recent five-star London International Horse Show Grand Prix winner Ebolensky. The pair were the best of nine clears in the 16-horse jump-off. Butler finished ninth with Ti Amo B Z when double clear.

Sampson commented: “She’s an amazing horse, we’ve had her since she was seven. She won the Grand Prix in London, and this is the next Big Grand Prix since then.

“She’s just an incredible horse, she loves the facilities here and the grass rings. I’m very lucky to have her.”