THE one-star and two-star show at Kelsall Hill in England drew to a close on Monday with a great result for Sligo’s Richard Howley, when he won the two-star 1.45m Grand Prix with Zodiak du Buisson Z. Howley and the nine-year-old grey gelding (VDL Zirocco Blue x Dutch Capitol Z) were among just seven of the 46 starters to jump clear in the first round and they also managed to keep all the fences standing in the jump-off to finish in a time of 34.18 seconds – almost three seconds faster than British runner-up Jennifer Billington on Flipper Darco UK Z, who stopped the clock in 37.13 seconds.
Ireland was well represented at the show and secured several placings over the course of the weekend. Sven Hadley on Uidam placed fourth in the two-star 1.25m Special Two-Phase class on Friday, followed by Jessica Burke on Inpulss in fifth.
The two-star 1.40m Two-Phase class saw Ireland’s Patrick Hickey on Casago II take fifth place, with Burke in seventh, this time riding African Affair.
On Saturday, the one-star 1.20m class saw Katie Nallon ride Irish Sport Horse mare Claire’s Delight into eighth place, while Richard Howley and Skyfall OS placed fifth in the one-star 1.25m class, with Burke riding Romelus de Muze into seventh.
Jessica Burke and Inpulss won the two-star 1.30m Two-Phase class, with Anthony Condon on Rio Bravo Z placing fifth. Burke went on to take fifth place in the two-star 1.40m Special Two-Phase class riding African Affair, with Richard Howley on Farianne placing eighth.
Sunday’s one-star 1.20m class saw a great result for the Irish contingent, with Anthony Condon on SFS Valente in third; Patrick Hickey on Dresden 7 in fourth and Katie Nallon on Claire’s Delight in seventh.
In the one-star 1.20m Accumulator class, Sven Hadley on HSH Harper Du Seigneur were third, while Jessica Burke on NS Last Express were seventh.
Richard Howley rode Farianne to take the win in the two-star 1.40m class, with Katie Nallon in sixth riding Ecklands Helado.
The one-star 1.30m Grand Prix on Monday saw a runner-up finish for Burke on Romelus de Muze, while Richard Howley on Skyfall OS finished seventh. Katie Nallon on Claire’s Delight placed third in the one-star 1.20m class. The show concluded with a second place for Sven Hadley on Uidam in the last class.