ALEXANDER Butler made an impression at Samorin, Slovakia, over the weekend, when he won a section of the divided three-star 1.45m Silver Tour final on Saturday, jumping clear to win section one on Much Loved (ISH), by Luidam out of Larissa II (Libertino I), bred by Philip McManus, in 69.08.

Belgian Constant van Paesschen on Kannavara Z won section two in a slightly faster time (68.55), putting Butler in second overall.

Oone-star competition commenced last Wednesday. Three-star classes began on Thursday, August 1st, when Richard Howley on Zodiak di Buisson Z placed 10th in the 1.45, Grand Prix Qualifier.

The one-star six and seven-year-old 1.25m/ 1.30m class had 109 starters, so was divided into two sections.

In section one, Ireland’s Kellie Allen rode Franco’s Feelina into seventh place, when double clear in 30.63.

The section was won by German winner Hannes Ahlmann on Cimarosa 4 (27.15). Section two was won by Butler on Helconnor de Terlong, when they jumped double clear in a jump-off time of 27.83 seconds. When the two sections were amalgamated, Ahlmann took first place with the slightly faster time, with Butler in second place.

Friday’s three-star 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier saw a great line up for the Irish, when from 77 starters, Butler took fourth on Jurry Bleu K, Howley came sixth on Mansini Ltd and Thomas Ryan came seventh on Connoisseur PWR.

Butler also took eighth place in Saturday’s one-star Middle Tour 1.25m Special Two-Phase class with Europa B Z, while on Sunday, he concluded the show with a fourth place finish in the one-star Big Tour 1.40m Final on Tequila des Sequoias Z.