CONTINENTAL Europe proved happy hunting ground for Irish riders last week, with the Irish Sport Horse Express Trend, owned and bred by Liam Nicholas, bagging a bronze medal position in a four-star 1.50m speed competition in Week 6 of the Andalucía Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera for Galway girl, Jessica Burke, on Thursday.

Then, on Sunday, young Kilkenny talent Seamus Hughes Kennedy steered ESI Rocky (ISH Stakkato Gold x For Pleasure), owned by his mother Clare Hughes and bred by Ennisnag Stud, to second in the four-star 1.55m Range Rover Salamanca Grand Prix at the Spanish venue.