GALWAY’s Michael Duffy won the one-star 1.40m Grand Prix at the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva, Spain, last Saturday.
Riding Miranda Gachoud’s 10-year-old gelding Evito, Duffy was among 12 clears in the first round of the class. Four combinations went on to produce double clear rounds, and Duffy was fastest of those when breaking the beam in 46.58 seconds to win €750.
Britain’s Harry Charles sotted into second place with Utrillo du Roumois (0/0 46.87), ahead of Pippa Funnell and Billy Amber (0/0 48.12). Limerick’s Paul Kennedy faulted once against the clock to finish seventh with Dancing Queen VK.
A day earlier, Duffy and Evito also won the 1.40m Table A when they were the best of 25 clear rounds in a time of 59.76 seconds. His namesake, Michael G Duffy from Co Mayo, slotted into sixth place with Carl Hanley Sporthorses’ eight-year-old gelding Laithinus (0/ 66.86), while Dublin’s Matt Garrigan was also inside the top 10 in ninth aboard Carressa (0/ 68.48).
Kenny win
Michelle Kenny made the trip to Spain from her River Lodge Equestrian in Wexford and was rewarded with a victory in Saturday’s one-star 1.40m aboard the Irish Sport Horse mare Juicy. The 13-year-old Laughton’s Flight-sired mare was bred in Co Antrim by Kris Marshall.
Kenny posted the fastest of just four clear rounds in a time of 66.61 seconds, ahead of Britain’s Sophie Stockdale in second (0/ 68.95).
Kenny’s other placing came in Sunday’s 1.30m aboard Vincent Meaney’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Hillside Grey Dawn, by Balou du Rouet. The pair were clear in 65.67 seconds to finish fourth. Madelaine Gervais steered Ifra van de Eik to seventh place when clear in 66.44.
Sean Cubitt won Saturday’s 1.30m Table A aboard Home Farm Equestrian’s Encore with a clear round in 54.66 seconds. The pair also placed sixth in Friday’s 1.25m.
Kildare’s Niall Talbot once again continued his incredible winning streak with Kobold v. Schlösslihof CH. The combination were the best of 15 clear rounds in Saturday’s 1.35m, breaking the beam with the winning time of 60.63 seconds ahead of Britain’s Matthew Sampson and Centos Girl.
They then finished second in Sunday’s 1.30m, just fractions slower than Britain’s Olivia Natasha Poole and Elnora.
Anthony Condon finished best of the Irish in Sunday’s 1.45m two-star Grand Prix at the venue. Riding Pat Hales’ home-bred SFS Vincomte, Condon was among 18 of the starting 64 who managed to jump clear in the first round.
His clear round in 38.52 seconds in the jump-off was eventually good enough for fourth place and €3,000. Victory went to Frenchman Harold Boisset and T’Obetty du Domaine (0/0 37.02).
Michael Duffy also made it through to the jump-off with Zilton SI Z, but four faults against the clock meant they had to settle for 10th place.
CES Valencia
NEARBY at CES Valencia Autumn Tour, Deirdre Reilly was a winner when she raced to victory in Saturday’s one-star 1.25m jump-off aboard her own Greace H in a time of 33.46 seconds, ahead of Britain’s Emily Moffitt. Jordan Kilkenny slotted into seventh place with Vincent 163.
Mayo’s Cameron Hanley finished fourth in Sunday’s two-star 1.45m Grand Prix. Riding the eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse ESI Toulouse (SIEC Livello x Quasimodo vd Molendreef), who was bred by Cian O’Connor and Ennisnag Stud), Hanley was one of seven double clears in the nine-horse jump-off in a time of 43.43 seconds.
Jordan Kilkenny also produced a double clear to finish just behind Hanley in sixth with Florida van Maarle. Victory went to Moffitt and Copain du Perchet CH, a stallion formally ridden by Cian O’Connor.