Burke continues top

form at Chepstow

JESSICA Burke came out on top of a field of 65 to win a two-star in the UK last Monday, taking the Equestrian Surfaces Big Tour 1.45m Grand Prix class at the Chepstow Summer International in a thrilling jump-off on board African Affair.

The Gort rider has had a year to remember already and it is evident that the form continues with her latest haul.

Thirteen combinations went clear in the first round including Anthony Condon and LMD Marko, however an unfortunate pole down left this pair in 11th overall. This 2015 ISH gelding is by Goodluck VDL x Baloubet du Rouet, bred by Larry McDermott and owned by Wyndham St. John.

Richard Howley was desperately unlucky to miss out on progressing with Quality Street (Beach Ball), after picking up a time fault.

Burke and African Affair howeverhad no trouble at all and stopped the clock on 36.95 seconds to earn a cheque of €9,401.96 as well as the King Hussein Trophy.

African Affair is a 2011 Stallion by Billy Congo, bred by Antoinette Mckeowen and owned by Louisa Church.

Anthony Condon also had a third place finish at this event riding Zira vh Kapelhof Z in the CSI1* Platinum Tour Final 1.40m and a fourth place with Chin Cham Cham in the CSI2* Small Tour Final 1.35m. He also came out on top of Friday’s CSI2* Big Tour 1.40m class with SFS Houdini.

Sweet result at Azelhof

Jeremy Sweetnam posted a fantastic three-star victory in Azelhof, Belgium, on Sunday, securing ultimate honours in the 1.45m competition along with the 10-year-old Bojaro, who is owned by Frank and Maja Auer.

A mammoth field of 99 combinations entered, so the course builder would have been happy with 15 going clear. A further five had just one time fault so the course clearly asked questions of the contestants.

Ballinascarthy man Sweetnam, a nephew of double Olympian Shane Sweetnam, had no such worries though in partnership with his gelding, who having made the jump-off then showed the required pace to snatch the honours from Thibeau Spits (BEL) and Conrad Quality Z thanks to a time of 36.72 seconds.

Bourns brings it home with win at at Ottawa

GALWEGIAN Andrew Bourns of Bourns Sport Horses registered a five-star podium finish in Ottawa, Canada, last weekend teaming up with his own nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse Tranquility Bay to finish third behind local hero Sean Jobin and Coquelicot VH Heuvelland Z at the Major League Show Jumping leg at Wesley Clover Parks.

It was an excellent effort by horse and rider who made Jobin and runner-up Bruno Diniz Das Neves (POR) work with their second clear in 36.25, which was more than two seconds faster than fourth but less than one shy of the winning time of 35.47.

Tranquility Bay (ISH) is a 2015 gelding by Emerald (BWP) out of Tullibards Lux Sensational (ISH) by Lux ZZ (HANN), bred by John Mulvey, Co Wicklow.