LAST week was a memorable one for the Wachman family from Tipperary, with Tom, Alice and Max all competing well at Moura Tours in Valencia, Spain.

Their highlight was undoubtedly on Sunday, when 19-year-old Tom won the three-star 1.50m Grand Prix riding the nine-year-old gelding Tabasco de Toxandria Z. Of 43 participants in the class, only four made it through to the jump-off.

Tom was the clear winner, as he and his mount were the only ones who managed to keep all the poles intact second time out. His dazzling double clear, in a time of 45.90, secured him the top spot and the first prize of €14,200.

The three others managed to get round the course faster than Tom, but none of them were able to match Wachman’s double clear. The win was made even more special, as it was Tom’s first ever three-star Grand Prix victory.

Tom’s brother Max rode Tabasco de Toxandria Z in 2023 and Kendra Claricia Brinkop rode him this year and was shortlisted for Germany’s Olympic team.

Victor Bettendorf (LUX) with Doha de Riverland were runners-up, with third place going to France’s Alexa Ferrer on Vitalhorse Fleur d’Oz.

Week one of the Autumn Tour commenced last Tuesday, with some young horse classes and training sessions.

Thursday’s 1.30m class saw Alice Wachman take sixth place with Tsunami and 10th with Thijssen Sr Z, with her brother Tom slotting into eighth place with Obora’s Laura. Tom took 10th place in the day’s 1.45m class with Tabasco de Toxandria Z.

Friday saw Alice and Thijssen Sr Z take fourth place in the 1.35m Two-phase Special, from a start list of 25, while Tom placed seventh in the 1.40m Two-phase Special on Obora’s Laura from 27 starters. Meanwhile, their brother Max rode Lexington into seventh place in the 1.45m Jump-off class, which had 32 starters.

Saturday saw Cian O’Connor and Liffey Swim place seventh in the 1.35m Speed class, followed by 10th place with Belvedere in the 1.45m Speed class.

Tom was back on the podium in Sunday’s 1.40m jump-off class on board I’m Here. From 34 starters, there were just eight clear first rounds – they included Tom on I’m Here and Max on both Fancy de Kergane and Kilkenny. Only seven of those jumped a second time, with Max withdrawing Kilkenny from the jump-off.

Tom’s jump-off time of 40.95 seconds was good enough for third place, while Max settled for seventh this time.