IRISH show jumpers were in attendance at the Al Shira’aa International Horse Show at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates last week, with a number of very creditable placings at both two-star and four-star level.

In Saturday’s €28,200 CSI2* Abu Dhabi Sports Council Gold Tour Grand Prix, course designer Elio Travagliati (ITA) designed a challenging track. Out of the 41 riders on the start list, only six jumped clear to make it through to the jump-off. Of those, Belgian rider Abdel Saïd on board Figueras de Laume recorded the fastest time to take the top spot, jumping clear in 36.81 seconds.

Just 0.2 seconds behind, Kildare’s Michael Pender placed second for Ireland on HHS Los Angeles, who jumped double clear and finished the jump-off in a time of 37.01 seconds. This 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Le Roi (ZDP), out of China Cavalier (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST), was bred in Kilkenny by former Olympic team rider, Marion Hughes.

The top three was completed by Germany’s Sophie Hinners on Special Life, who finished in 38.98 seconds. Ireland’s Billy Twomey rode 10-year-old bay stallion Julius (Mylord Carthago*HN x Mermus R) into sixth place in the same class.

Placings

Pender and HHS Los Angeles had started well at the show, placing fifth in the CSI2* 1.40m Gold Tour class on Wednesday (January 10th), jumping clear in 34.66 seconds in the second phase.

Meanwhile, Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Z7 Ipswich were runners-up in the CSI4* 1.45m Diamond Tour class on Thursday, finishing clear in a time of 26.73 seconds, just 0.34 seconds behind German winner Christian Ahlmann riding Otterongo Alpha Z. Derry’s David Simpson and Billy Piccadilly finished seventh with a clear round in 28.70 seconds.

On Friday, Shane Breen was in the top 10 again in the CSI2* 1.40m Gold Tour class, when he placed 10th with nine-year-old bay stallion Koh-I-Noor.

Ireland’s Billy Twomey and Ace of Hearts Z placed fifth in the CSI4*-W 1.40m two-phase class, jumping clear in 31.35 seconds in the second phase. The class was won by Sweden’s Antonia Pettersson Haggstrom riding Komme Vous, who were clear in 29.23 seconds.

Friday also saw Shane Breen riding 11-year-old gelding Scarteen into runner-up spot in the CSI4*-W 1.50m Diamond Tour class, jumping clear in 67.23 seconds.

The class was won by Great Britain’s Joseph Stockdale riding Ebanking, who finished the jump-off in 66.04 seconds.

Sunday’s CSI4*-W 1.45m Pearl Tour class saw Trevor Breen and Melanie Davidson’s ABC Cortana Cruise placing ninth, while in the CSI4*-W €155,000 Al Shira’aa Longines Grand Prix, Shane Breen and Z7 Ipswich finished sixth.

Germany’s Sophie Hinners rode Singclair to win the class.