Victory for Sweetnam

CORK’s Shane Sweetnam won last Thursday’s $37,000 CSI3* Corcoran Group Speed class in Traverse City, Michigan, USA aboard Alejandro. He had set the standard aboard the nine-year-old ISH mare Caraghs Quality Lady (OBOS Quality x Limmerick) in 65.45 and she eventually finished third, however, Sweetnam still got his win when he broke the beams in 64.60 second with Seabrook LLC and Spy Coast Farm’s 13-year-old Alejandro.

Three-star win for Dalton

IVAN Dalton won a three-star 1.40m in Mâcon Chaintré, France last Friday. He rode the 10-year-old John McLaughlin-bred gelding Lincourt Luidam (Luidam x Cavalier Royale) to the fastest of 15 clear rounds in a time of 38.73 seconds to earn €1,500.

Louth show jumper Mark McAuley was also in action at the venue and he finished runner-up in Saturday’s 1.40m Table A aboard the 10-year-old mare O’Hara ELS. The pair crossed the finish line in 39.77 seconds, just slower than French winner Maelle Martin and Tempo du Plix (37.88).

Jordan Coyle fifth in

five-star Grand Prix

DERRY show jumper Jordan Coyle finished fifth in the five-star $405,300 FEI Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties last weekend. Riding Centriko Volo, he had to settle for $24,318 when failing to make it through to the jump-off. Victory went to USA’s Hunter Holloway with Pepita Con Spita; they were the only combination to produce a clear in the four-horse jump-off. Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire finished second with Cornwall BH. In the 1.45m National Grand Prix at the venue, Coyle finished runner-up with the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse Lisaniska Cool Quality (L.B. Companiero x Quantum) who was bred by Sigrid Jackel.

Win for Ciaran Nallon

MAYO young rider Ciaran Nallon was in fine form at Samorin, Slovakia last weekend, winning both a two-star and a young horse class. The two-star win came in Friday’s 1.45m ranking class aboard the nine-year-old mare Dolce Vita des Ouches, owned by Eddy Schöpfer. In a seven-horse jump-off, they were the best of five clears in a time of 35.12 seconds, winning €6,500. Harry Allen finished in sixth place with Albright GJB (0/4 35.21). Nallon, who is based in Germany with Cameron Hanley, then won the seven-year-old class with the Ashford Farm-bred mare Showoff AF Z, and finished fifth with Big Blue 3, while Allen was fourth aboard Cayetana.