MEATH’S Nicky Galligan, who is now based in New York, was a winner in Wellington at the end of last week when he rode a fantastic round on VDL Nikita van de Leeuwerk to win the four-star $32,000 1.50m speed class on Thursday, with a clear round in 61.9 seconds. Derry’s Jordan Coyle and For Gold also finished on the podium in third place in 63.33. The two Irish riders were divided by Nayel Nassar (EGY) on Ivory TCS in second place in 62.23. Coyle also placed eighth in the class on Keep Me With You NC.

“I’m so proud of Nikita and the incredible team behind us that make days like this possible,” said Galligan after his win. “We really do have the best people in our corner.”

On the scoreboard

Week 11 of the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International commenced last Wednesday, March 19th and Richie Moloney got things started with a sixth place in the four-star $1,000 1.40m class on Skelwith Diamond Lady.

Mayo’s Cormac Hanley on For Dad took third in the four-star $6,000 1.45m class, while Cork’s Shane Sweetnam on Cervantes finished eighth in the $6,000 1.40m Open Jumper class. Paul O’Shea rode Valantus into the top spot in the $2,500 1.35m Open Jumper class and Kerry Taggart on Quincy van Heiste placed sixth in the $2,000 1.30m Open Jumper class.

Michael Hutchinson on Labaomi W finished 10th in Thursday’s two-star $32,000 1.45m qualifier.

Sweetnam on Toulonia placed third in the $8,000 1.45m Open Jumper class, while Kevin Gallagher on Saskia’s Boy were runners-up in the $2,500 1.35m Open Jumper class.

The $6,000 1.40m Open Jumper class saw two Irish riders on the podium, when O’Shea on Valantus placed second and Sweetnam on Cervantes came third. Coyle followed in eighth place with Chaccolino.

Friday saw Coyle ride Keep Me With You NC into second place in the four-star $62,500 WEF Challenge Round 11, when they jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 41.43. He was very narrowly beaten by Israel’s Ashlee Bond on Night Wish, who was among the 12 who got through to the jump-off, despite having four faults in round one. She made up for it in the jump-off, when jumping clear in 41.4 – a mere 0.03 seconds ahead of Coyle! Sweetnam on Gilona AO placed eighth, followed by Niamh McEvoy on Jargon DN in 10th.

Michael Duffy on Balouwinsky placed 10th in the $2,500 1.35m Open Jumper class, while Taggart on Quincy van Heiste won the $2,000 1.30m Open Jumper class, followed by Philip McGuane on Oilily van’t Eigenlo in ninth.

Saturday’s two-star $62,500 Grand Prix saw a fourth-place finish for Michael Hutchinson on Labaomi W.

Coyle on the 14-year-old gelding For Gold took the runner-up position in the four-star $150,000 1.50m Classic Series Final on Saturday, only being beaten by Alex Matz (USA) on Cashew CR, whose time of 35.31 seconds was less than half a second faster than Coyle’s (35.68). Moloney on Skelwith Diamond Lady placed seventh in the class.

Sunday’s four-star $200,000 Grand Prix saw a podium finish for Sweetnam on the 14-year-old mare Gilona AO, when they finished third. There were 45 starters in the class, with 12 of them jumping clear in the first round and proceeding to the jump-off, where seven jumped clear again. The top three finished within half a second of each other – with winner Ansgar Holtgers JR (USA) on Pixel-K van’t Kattenheye stopping the clock in 40.04, followed by Spencer Smith (USA) on the Irish Sport Horse HHS Seattle (Pacino x HHS Chantilly Lace by Cavalier Royale), bred by Anne Hughes, in second (40.13), with Sweetnam just behind them in 40.52.