THE first two-star international class at Balmoral International saw a win for regular British visitor Louise Saywell. Riding Sultan Saud’s 14-year-old gelding Sharp Image.

The combination galloped to victory in the Topspec International Speed, a 1.40m Table A which saw 36 start. From those, there were 12 clears and Saywell posted the winning time of 64.20, over five seconds faster than their closest rival.

That was Galway’s Daniel McAlinden riding Luisa Horta Osorio’s Ahg Whiterock Doctor Cruise, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Indoctro, bred by Ann Gannon Clancy. They keep all the poles in the cups in a time of 69.64.

Britain’s Jonathon Buxton slotted into third place with Paige Buxton’s Happy- Fomia when delivering a clear in 72.46 seconds, while Portuguese rider Luisa Horta Osorio and Ballerina Girl Dvo Z answered all the questions in 73.30 for eventual fourth. Irish riders filled the next six places; Tom Wachman was fifth with Coolmore Showjumping’s 10-year-old gelding Donegal in 76.43. Completing the top six line-up was Kilkenny’s Seamus Hughes Kennedy and ESI Ali, clear in 76.75.

Win for Curran

Victory in the later 1.45m Clive Richardson Ltd International Stakes went to Commdt Geoff Curran when he delivered a clear aboard Glengarra Wood in the 10-way jump-off, in a time of 38.93. Seamus Hughes Kennedy added to his record when he came home clear with Clare Hughes’ ISH mare Castlefield Hera (Plot Blue x Puissance), bred by Jim O’Neill, in a time of 38.97 for second.

Jonathan Smyth is proving to be a strong contender in the National Grands Prix and he took his place in this line-up when he partnered Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig’s Mulvin Lui (Luidam x Baron de Chantepie) to a clear in 39.62 for third place. A clear from Susan Fitzpatrick and Manny O’Hara’s Miss Paris in 40.94 saw her take fourth place, ahead of Britain’s Louise Saywell and Daniel (0/0 41.41). Slotting into sixth place when clear in 41.92 was William Fletcher and Valento for Britain.

Saywell strikes again

It was a British one-two in Thursday morning’s Ryfale International Speed Challenge, a 1.45m Table C class. Louise Saywell put another win on the board with Sharp Image when the pair came home with no penalties to add in a time of 56.50.

Compatriot Annabel Shields was fractions behind with Wet Wet Wet, clocking 56.96 for second place. Daniel McAlinden was back in the line-up, claiming third with AHG Whiterock Doctor Cruise, when clear in 58.01. Susan Fitzpatrick and Keatingstown Skorphults Joker, owned by Sharon Fitzpatrick, accounted for eventual fourth when they put in a foot-perfect round in 58.15. Fifth place belonged to Northern Ireland-based British rider Nicole Kershaw and Clovalent (0/ 58.86), ahead of Emily Turkington and Cissi (0/ 59.44).

Two victories meant Saywell was the crowned the leading international rider of the show.