Mark McAuley wins two-star

Grand Prix in Cervia

LOUTH show jumper Mark McAuley won last Sunday’s two-star 1.45m Grand Prix in Cervia, Italy. Riding the Denis Hickey-bred Irish Sport Horse mare GRS Lady Amaro (Amaretto Darco x Over The River), he was the best of nine double clear in a big jump-off, finishing in a time of 37.02 seconds. The mare was produced by McAuley’s first cousin, Patrick Hickey, before McAuley took over the ride at the beginning of the year.

On Friday, in the 1.45m, the pair finished finish when they were the fastest of the four faulters in a time of 65.54. McAuley was back in the line-up the next day taking third place with Cap West in the 1.40m when they kept the poles in place 70.9 seconds.

Anthony Condon third in St Lô

WATERFORD’s Anthony Condon got off to a good start in St Lô last week when he took third place in the three-star 1.45m jump-off class with Pat Hales’ SFS Vincomte. They came home with nothing to add in 41.72, less than a second off the winner, Belgium’s José Thiry and Jalisco W Van De Wolvenshoek.

Two-star win for Conor Swail

CONOR Swail topped 64 entries in Saturday’s in the two-star $37,000 Callidae Speed Stakes at Traverse City in Michigan, USA. Riding Errol, the Sagamore Farms-owned 12-year-old gelding by Luidam x Le Tot De Semilly, Swail clocked the winning time in 58.79 seconds to beat off the challenge of USA’s Kent Farrington with Chato Lou in a time of 59.04.

Swail was then third in Sunday’s five-star 1.55m Grand Prix aboard Vital Chance de la Roque. In a four-horse jump-off, the pair finished with four faults despite having the fastest time by over two seconds. Victory went to USA’s Callie Schott with Garant.