LESS than a week after taking victory in the Puissance at the Horse of the Year Show with Bishops Quarter, Waterford’s Comdt Geoff Curran added another win to his record, this time in the 1.50m two-phase competition at the four-star show in St Tropez, France.

Riding the Minister For Defence’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Tempo Manor, he was one of just four double clears in a time of 32.21. By Sligo Candy Boy, Tempo Manor was bred by Noel Wright out of the Lux Z mare Roxy Lux.

Curran had well over two seconds to spare over his nearest challenger, Sri Lanka’s Mathilda Karlsson and Apollonia 23 who finished in a time of 34.94. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch finished fifth with Cornets Iberio when they lodged the fastest round of the class in 31.20, but he paid the price with one on the ground. Jessica Burke also finished in the top 10, claiming eighth place with Nikey HH; she had one on the ground in a time of 32.98.

Kenny victory

Friday also proved to be a good day for the Irish contingent when Offaly’s Darragh Kenny guided Cicomein VDL to victory in Friday’s two-star 1.45m speed class.

They delivered the fastest of four clear rounds in 65.17. Denis Lynch proved out of luck when he had one down aboard Cornets Iberio, but their time of 67.83 saw them finish as fastest of the four-faulters and as a result slotted into fifth place.

On Saturday, Denis Lynch and Jessica Burke were back in the line-up in the 1.45m jump-off class. Lynch took the runner-up spot with GC Chopin’s Bushi when he was a second off the winner in a time of 38.80. Burke also put in a very fast round with Liam Nicholas’ home-hred 12-year-old gelding Express Trend (Future Trend x Condios), stopping the clock in a time of 40.10 for third.

Lynch was back in the line-up on Sunday when finishing fourth in the two-star 1.45m Grand Prix. Riding the Onyx Consulting-owned eight-year-old stallion Dark Chocolate 48, he delivered one of six clears in the 12-way jump-off, breaking the beam in a time of 42.46.

Mark McAuley posted the fastest time (40.41) with the Denis Hickey-bred GRS Lady Amaro (Amaretto Darco x Over the River) but finished with a fence down to place seventh.

Lynch finished 10th in the four-star 1.55m Grand Prix after a fence down in the first round with Cornets Iberio. Victory went to Julien Epaillard on Donatello d’Auge when they were fastest of four double clears in a time of 39.64.