LAST week saw a three-star international show being held at Ommen in The Netherlands, which attracted some of the top riders from around the world, including several Irish competitors.

One of the highlights of the show was perhaps the fantastic Irish one-two in Thursday’s three-star 1.50m Big Tour class, with Cork’s Simon McCarthy continuing his run of form on Narcotique v/h Dingenshof taking the win, ahead of Alexander Butler on Much Loved in second.

From the 53 starters, an impressive 24 jumped clear, but time was the crucial factor. McCarthy and his 11-year-old mount, owned by Ilan Ferder Stables, jumped an impeccable clear round in an amazing time of 61.12 seconds. No-one came even close to beating that – not even fellow Irishman Butler, who finished more than three seconds behind in 64.51 to take second place with nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Much Loved by Luidam (KWPN) out of Larissa II (HOLST) by Libertino I (HOLST), bred by Philip McManus and owned by Alaa Kamal Ahmad.

However, Butler got his turn to take the top honours, when he rode 13-year-old stallion Pico to win the Puissance class on Friday. They were the only pair to clear the wall in the fourth round.

This was the third year in a row for Butler to win the class, this time riding the Irish Sport Horse by Chekhov PZK (OLD) out of Da Soffer (AES) by Carrolls Flight (AES), bred by Norman Allen in Co Westmeath and owned by Timaskea Stud.

Conan Wright on JSH Ice Man finished joint second, with Conor Drain on Hadisse van Prinseveld placing sixth.

In the ribbons

Wright had made a good start for Ireland last Wednesday, when taking the runner-up spot in the one-star 1.30m Medium Tour class on Lafayette. The pair went one better the next day, winning the one-star 1.30m Medium Tour class.

Thursday saw another sixth-place finish for Drain, this time on Jasmin in the three-star 1.45m Medium Tour class.

On Friday, Shane Breen rode Be Golden into fifth place in the three-star 1.45m Medium Tour class and followed this up with a fourth place on board Cato Boy in the three-star 1.50m Big Tour class, while Jeremy Sweetnam on Come To Me finished eighth.

Wright continued his run of form on Saturday, when winning another one-star 1.30m Medium Tour class on Lafayette, with Drain and Quechin DI Cabra placing seventh.

Daniel Coyle rode Lena VDL into third place in the three-star 1.45m Medium Tour final on Saturday from a start list of 60. Coyle has only had the eight-year-old mare, owned and bred by VDL Stud, since January. They had a pole down in the first round, but jumped clear when it mattered and in a quick time of 37.54 seconds to claim a place on the podium.

Meanwhile, Sweetnam on Caala Llamp finished fifth in the three-star 1.40m Small Tour class, with Drain on Hadisse Van Prinseveld in ninth.

Butler concluded the show well, when he was best of the Irish in Sunday’s three-star 1.55m Grand Prix, riding Jurry Bleu K into third place. They were followed by Sweetnam and Come To Me in eighth.