THE Army Equitation School’s Commandant Geoff Curran bagged his second three-star podium finish of the week with Irish Sport Horse DHF Alliance at Chard Equestrian on Saturday, when the man from Fenor and his Paul Douglas-bred partner went one step better on this occasion by claiming second.

It was Briton James Smith that took the spoils once more in Somerset, but as the only combination of 11 not representing the home nation in the jump-off of the 1.50m class, Curran and the nine-year-old mare by Ard Vdl Douglas and out of Luc Z’s Rosie Bee (ISH) excelled. Their second clear round of 34.57 beat everyone apart from Smith and Tayvale Hunky Dory.

Comdt Curran and DHF Alliance were also third of the 64 combinations in another excellent three-star 1.45m two-phase class at Chard Equestrian on Thursday.

Curran, a native of Co Waterford, and his nine-year-old partner bred by Paul Douglas and owned by the Minister for Defence, were less than half a second off the winning time of 25.10 seconds set by British rider James Smith and Juno Rose 23, posting a mark of 25.59 as they registered their second clear for a spot on the podium.

Victorious

Shane Breen was also victorious at Chard, bringing home the win in the CSI3* Small Tour 1.40m final with Z7 Ipswich (Carembar de Muze x Quick Star). Sixth in this class was Michaeli Ann Byrne with the Minister for Defence’s Glendarragh (ISH, Future Trend x Aldatus Z), bred by Kieran Kennedy. Byrne was also sixth with this horse in Saturday’s CSI3* Small Tour 1.40m final and sixth with the Minister for Defence’s Dunboyne (ISH, Elvis Ter Putte x Sibon W) in Sunday’s CSIYH1* seven-year-old 1.35m final.

Breen also had a fifth place finish with Pino in Friday’s CSIYH1* seven-year-old 1.30m Speed class.

An Irish-bred winner at Chard in the CSI1* 1.25m Two-Phase Special was Kiltubrid Ruby (ISH, Sligo Candy Boy x Lombardo), bred by Marian Tighe and ridden by Great Britain’s Ronnie Jones.

Also featuring well at Chard on Thursday in the CSI1* 1.35m Accumulator class was Tankardstown No Diggity (ISH, Dignified van’t Zorgvliet x Furisto’s Diamond), bred by Jimmy Dermody and ridden into first place by Briton Joseph Trunkfield.

In the CSI3* Small Tour 140cm Two-Phase Special on Sunday, Ireland’s David Simpson had a fourth with Pepper Vincent (Vivant x Chacco-Blue) and on Saturday he was also fourth with Billy Pumbaa in the CSIYH1* seven-year-old Two Phase 1.35m.