IRISH show jumpers held their own at the five-star Longines Global Champions Tour in London last weekend, finishing second and third on the Grand Prix podium.

Britain’s Ben Maher scored an emphatic victory on home turf to claim victory in front of an enthusiastic sell-out crowd at the unique venue of the Royal Hospital Chelsea backdrop.

Some 12 combinations made it through to the jump-off over Alan Wade’s big jumping track, and of those, just four produced a second clear against the clock.

Sweetnam had set the standard aboard the 10-year-old gelding Alejandro, owned by Seabrook LLC, Spy Coast Farm and Sweet Oak Farm, who he will take to the FEI European Championships in two weeks’ time, in a time of 37.44 seconds.

However, on home soil and riding the exceptionally talented 10-year-old gelding Explosion W had other ideas and jumped a clear round in an unassailable 35.98 seconds to the delight of the home crowd, relegating Sweetnam to second place.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny was last to go in the class, riding Ann Thompson’s inexperienced nine-year-old gelding Classic Dream. A perfect round in 37.62 seconds saw him slot into third place on the podium.

As Maher had already qualified for the LGCT Super Grand Prix at the GC Playoffs in Prague in November, the golden ticket was passed down to second-placed Sweetnam, who also earned £60,000.

Ben Maher (1st), Shane Sweetnam (2nd) and Darragh Kenny (3rd) on the podium after the Longines Global Champions Tour in London \ Stefano Grasso LGCT

Speaking afterwards, Sweetnam said: “In the warm-up I was looking at who’s qualified and who hasn’t. I knew I wasn’t likely to win, but thought maybe I could sneak into the Super Grand Prix. I am delighted to have qualified for it as it was in the back of my head today and I had my fingers crossed.”

Kenny, who qualified for the Super Grand Prix with a win in Chantilly, was thrilled with his youngster’s performance. “I believe in Classic Dream,” he said. “I took a risk but the horse is incredible, he felt amazing. I couldn’t have beaten Ben — my horse doesn’t have a massive stride like his does. There was no chance I would beat that time, so all I could so was my best.”

A delighted Maher, who competing at the Dublin Horse Show this week, praised his horse. “The best win is to win at home. To ride probably the best horse in the world is an incredible feeling. Explosion and I started the year a little slower this year and he’s had two GCT seconds, but I took all of the risks today. He felt incredible – in a different league – and deserved this win.”

Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels and Jenson van’t Meulenhof was the fourth and final double clear round. Maher’s win elevates him to second place on the current overall 2019 LGCT ranking behind the leader, Belgium’s Pieter Devos.

Clobal Champions League

Maher was also part of the winning London Knights Global Champions League team on Saturday afternoon. Maher teamed up with Oliver Philippaerts (H&M Extra) and they completed with the only zero score of the competition.

Bertram Allen was part of the Valkenswaard United team who finished second with four faults. Allen rode Ballywalter Farms’ GK Casper to a clear in the second round of the competition. Meanwhile, Denis Lynch rode in both rounds for New York Empire, who finished in third place.

Lynch and GC Chopin’s Bush faulted once in the opening round before improving to jump clear in Saturday’s class.

Two-star Grand Prix

There were two Irish riders in the top four of Sunday’s two-star Grand Prix at the venue. Cork’s Jeremy Sweetnam, who is riding for USA show jumper Georgina Bloomberg this summer, guided her Tulara Colmine to third place with a time of 39.89 seconds in the 13-horse jump-off. Galway man Stephen Moore was just behind him in fourth place with Vlock Show Stables’ eight-year-old stallion Chic Chic in a time of 40.67.

Victory went to Britain’s Matthew Sampson and Geneve R (0/0 35.83).

Joanne Sloan Allen placed fourth in Sunday’s two-star 1.30m aboard Colour Girl with a double clear in 36.81 seconds.