A SUPER performance earned Ireland’s talented Ben Walsh (16) and his pony Derryvane Belle victory in the FEI Jumping Ponies Trophy Final held in Mechelen, Belgium over the festive period.

“After a year of hard training, this victory here in Mechelen is a nice reward. It was really incredible to win the trophy,” said a delighted Ben Walsh afterwards.

The victory banners were out in Malin, Co Donegal this week to congratulate Ulster’s rising star rider on his top performance against some of the most competitive young riders in Europe over the testing 1.30-1.35m track on December 30th. The combination were on track at Mechelen with top 10 finishes recorded in the Table A and Table C competitions in the lead-up to the feature Grand Prix.

Some 19 combinations contested the Mechelen final, qualifying from Lyon and Stuttgart.

After the first two rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, only Belgium’s Laure Tijskens with Navayo remained clear. In the first round of the final, however, they did not stay clear and it was game on for the ultimate honours. In the first round, four faultless rounds were delivered from Rachel Törnblom with Helga TH.O., Ben Walsh with Derryvanne Belle, Jersey Kuijpers with Lafaletta and Leonie Pander with Indimill A. Also in the second and final round on time, Rachel Törnblom (FIN), Ben Walsh (IRL), Ruby Barrs (GBR) remained clear. Tijskens had her last jump down in the second round.

With a total of five penalty points, victory went to Walsh with Barrs collecting seven penalty points with Tijskens in third and Törnbllom (FIN) finished fourth.

Derryvane Belle, a 15-year-old bay mare, was Walsh’s mount in his successful first team outing, the duo posting a super double clear to help chef d’equipe Gary Marshall’s squad clinch an impressive Nations Cup of Zuidwolde victory in June.

Walsh’s star has been steadily rising with the youngster capturing the 148-1.25m Grand Prix at Cavan’s 2022 Home Pony International. He also successfully campaigned Springfield Oliver, Miraculous, Givaro and Roadside Coronation in 2022, winning the 148 6/7yo 1.10m Mullingar Horse Auctions YPS Final at the 2022 National Pony Championships with the latter.