COMDT Geoff Curran claimed an international win for the Irish Army Equitation School, when he won last Saturday’s 1.45m Royal Dublin Society Stakes speed class in the main arena.

Riding the nine-year-old Irish-bred mare DHF Alliance (Douglas x Lux Z), owned by Jess Stallard and the Minister for Defence and bred by Mr Paul Douglas, Comdt Curran proved best of the 31 strong start list, when crossing the finish line in 57.49.

The Dutch pathfinder Michael Greeve and Kannanton Z set the pace as the first to go. They were fault-free in a time of 61.79. Next in, also representing Holland was Bas Moerings riding Jesther. They too left all the fences intact in a time of 64.70.

Belgian Emilie Conter and Ocean Quality improved on both their times, stopping the clock at 60.67 for eventual ninth place, but the time would keep getting faster and faster.

Ireland’s Daniel Coyle and Lena VDL produced a superb round as sixth to go. They were clear in a time of 57.93 to head proceedings and looked like maybe they wouldn’t be caught, before ultimately settling for the runner-up position.

Shane Sweetnam aboard Irandole Du Flot made a decent attempt, stopping the clock at 59.84, which would be good enough for seventh.

Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Bingo Ste Hermelle finished in 58.27 for third place, while France’s Julien Gonin and Valou Du Lys recorded 59.20 for fourth.

Sweden’s Petronella Andersson and her mare Odina Van Klapscheut broke the beams at 59.22 for fifth, while Captain Morgan Weering Z was ridden into sixth place by Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet.