TIPPERARY’s Shane Breen won the five-star Derby at CSIO5* La Baule last weekend aboard his home-bred gelding Scarteen (Cardento x Chellano Z), aptly named after the Scarteen Hunt which he is master of.

Owned by Breen Equestrian and Marianne Schindal, who also rode the gelding to 1.50m level, Breen was the best of just two clear rounds in the competition, winning by over a second in 130.17 from Frenchman Julien Gonin.

It was the second consecutive Irish victory in the class following Denis Lynch’s win 12 months ago. “I love competing in Derbies because I’ve done a lot of hunting and that helps us to learn to ride on all kinds of terrain and under all kinds of conditions,” Breen commented. “La Baule is a very special show, it’s one of my favourites so I am honoured to win, I have had a couple of attempts and finished second twice. The crowd was magnificent today; I know the French wanted Julien to win but I also wanted to win!”

There were a number of Irish places over the course of the weekend. At his first five-star show, 18-year-old Tom Wachman was runner-up in the opening day’s 1.40m with Coolmore Showjumping’s I’m Here, just beaten by Julien Gonin for the home nation. His brother, Max, was third in the following 1.50m aboard Quintini, just ahead of trainer and mentor Cian O’Connor with Checkter.

O’Connor debuted his new mount, the 12-year-old mare Germaine W at five-star level and was top three in all three classes. The pair were third in Thursday’s 1.45m two-phase, runner-up in Friday’s 1.45m Table A and runner-up again in Sunday’s 1.45m.

Nations Cup

Ireland’s drive for three five-star Nations Cup wins in-a-row came to an end last Friday when they were out of luck in La Baule, however there were shots of promise with two riders under the age of 20 on the team.

The first round saw only five clear rounds and two of the world’s leading nations – Ireland and The Netherlands – exited the competition. Off the back of two phenomenal five-star wins in Rome and Vancouver, Michael Blake fielded a team of mixed experience with Wachman brother Max (19) and Tom (18) joined by veterans Shane Breen and Cian O’Connor who rode the inexperienced nine-year-old Tipperary.

Shane Breen was sixth into the arena and first for Ireland with the 13-year-old gelding Cuick Star Kervec (Quick Star x Diamand de Semilly) who is owned by Breen Equestrian and Quirke Sport Horses. They finished with eight faults after clipping both the first and third part of the triple combination.

Max Wachman was next riding his grandmother Susan Magnier’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Kilkenny (Cardento x Guidam) who was bred by Sinead Brennan. The grey gelding got close to the first part of the triple combination, knocking that, before also knocking the last fence, finishing on eight faults.

Tom Wachman was making his five-star debut just weeks after making his first senior start, with the 10-year-old gelding Rock of Cashel (VDL Bubalu x Cardento) who is also owned by his grandmother Susan Magnier. The pair finished with 16 faults.

Completing the trio owned by Susan Magnier was Tipperary (Arko x Diamant de Semilly), the nine-year-old gelding ridden in the anchor position by Ireland’s most capped show jumping rider Cian O’Connor. They needed a round of eight faults or less to progress to the second round; the pair finished with just that after a foot in the water and the last fence down. Equal on 24 faults with Japan after the first round, Ireland missed out on the second round on time difference.

After the first round, Sweden were out in front on four faults, ahead of Brazil and Belgium on eight faults and the home nation of France, Britain and Switzerland on 12 faults.

As usual with these competitions, it is never over until it’s over. Brazil and Belgium fought back in the second with three brilliant clears a piece, including doubles clear from Rodrigo Pessoa (Major Tom) for Brazil and Wilm Vermeir (IQ van het Steentje) for Belgium.

Last to go for Sweden, world number one Henrik Von Eckermann needed a clear with Iliana to win it but they knocked the very last fence to force a three-way jump-off. Vermeir was first to go and set the standard with a clear in 31.88, which was immediately beaten by Brazil’s Marlon Zanotelli with Grand Slam VDL (31.19). Last to go, von Eckermann had the fastest time but a fence on the floor meant Sweden had to settle for third place.

Grand Prix

Victory in Sunday’s €500,000 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix went the way of Belgium’s Nicola Phililippaerts with Katanga vh Dingeshof after a phenomenal 14-horse jump-off where there were eight double clears.

Third last to go against the clock, he galloped home in 36.06 seconds to beat Jens Fredricson and Markan Cosmopolit into second (36.38) and Henrik von Eckermann to third with Iliana (36.47).