IRISH riders had a good show at the Hampton Classic in Bridgehampton, New York, USA, last week, with a number of very respectable placings and a significant amount of prize money being collected.

Sunday saw Shane Sweetnam finish best of the Irish in the $400,000 five-star Grand Prix, when he placed fourth with RR Combella. The pair were followed by Darragh Kenny on Eddy Blue in seventh and Jordan Coyle on For Gold in eighth place.

Out of 40 starters, just eight combinations managed to keep a clean sheet to get into the jump-off - including the three aforementioned Irishmen - but such was the difficulty of the course, that only two repeated the feat to complete double clear. The win went to Germany’s Rene Dittmer on Corsica (37.55 seconds), with Mimi Gochman (USA) on Inclen BH in second place (38.58). The podium was completed by Alex Matz (USA) on Ikigai, who was the fastest of the four-faulters in 39.09. Sweetnam was next best in 39.31, just missing out on the podium after one fence fell, but taking home $40,000 in prize money for his efforts.

RR Combella is a 10-year-old mare, owned by himself and the Vogels and, according to Sweetnam, she is incredibly talented and has been a consistent money winner this year – having just returned from a successful international circuit. He extended his thanks to the Vogels for supporting this exceptionally talented mare.

Runner-up

Derry’s Jordan Coyle has had a great run of form with the 13-year-old gelding For Gold (For Fashion x Heraldik) recently and added to their tally, when claiming a runner-up finish in Friday’s $70,000 five-star 1.60m Grand Prix Qualifier.

Twelve of the 47 starters jumped clear first rounds to qualify for the jump-off, with seven of those jumping clear again second time out.

Coyle threw caution to the wind and jumped clear in the jump-off round in a speedy time of 35.31 seconds, but finished a mere 0.4 seconds behind American winner McLain Ward with High Star Hero (34.91). Another American, Kristen Vanderveen, finished third with Bull Run’s Jireh (36.21) to complete the podium. Coyle took home $14,000 for his efforts, while Darragh Kenny and Rockstar had a rail down to finish in ninth place.

Ribbons

Thursday, August 29th, saw Kenny ride Serendepety into third place in the $32,000 five-star 1.45m Two-phase class from a start list of 77. The win went to Kristen Vanderveen (USA) with Bull Run’s Hesed, who overtook long-time leader Mark Bluman (COL) and Ubiluc (30.86) when jumping clear in 30.39 seconds in the speed section.

Kenny and the nine-year-old mare Serendepety did their best to win the class, but fell just short of the leader, finishing in 31.29 for third place. It is a testament to the competitive nature of the class that the top three finished within one second of each other!

Friday’s $32,000 two-star Grand Prix qualifier saw Philip McGuane secure third place on board Edgard de Prefontaine.

Stephen Moore secured a sixth place for Ireland when he and Diva Karef BH jumped double clear in the $70,000 five-star Winning Round class.