AS the lone New Zealander to make to journey to Co Cork, Tim Rusbridge was rewarded with a solid win in the Hayes Solicitors CCI3*-L.

In a class of 11 starters, Rusbridge had held third spot overnight, and was promoted after a hugely influential show jumping phase on Sunday morning. Tony Hurley’s clever track certainly needed jumping and, although she was sitting comfortably in both first and second spots, Izzy Taylor clocked up expensive penalties with both Jason King and Barrington 57.

Rusbridge however was immaculate with the Irish-bred Inception, as was Ireland’s Godfrey Gibbons (Miami Free Spirit) who completed in second with the only other clear round. Paying his first visit to Kilguilkey, the Kiwi rider was full of praise both for the course and for the traditionally bred Inception who he bought from his father-in-law Shaun Parkyn as a four-year-old.

“It was a solid run all round,” said Rusbridge, who owns and runs a successful breaking and pre-training yard in Gloucestershire. “He’s taken time to get established, but he felt fantastic around what was a decent track and we’re looking forward to progressing forward. Definite future plans are undecided, but we have pencilled in a four-star short format run at Hartpury in August.” Bred by Geraldine and James Berney, the 10-year-old is by the thoroughbred Superior Premium out of Motorbower Trump (Golden Trump).

Posting a highly creditable second placing, young rider Godfrey Gibbons was equally delighted with the diminutive Milchem Free Spirit, a daughter of Contra A and bred by Ralph Conroy. “It (show jumping) was technical enough and a big forward track,” said Gibbons, who is hoping for selection for the European Young Rider Championships. “The cross-country was also strong. There were plenty of questions and a tight time, although I forgot to start my watch, and only realised at the minute marker!”

In fact, the Co Galway-based pair were one of only two combinations to make the time allowed, the other being third-placed Izzy Taylor aboard Alex Phillips’ overnight leader Jason King. Rueing losing her fence in hand advantage, Taylor commented: “He’s a new ride and I like him a lot, but he’s not my horse yet. He was a bit nervous at the start of the show jumping and we paid the penalty.”

Overall, the cross-country rode well, and while the time was tight and the track strong, only British rider Georgia Bartlett failed to complete. The two remaining Irish combinations, Ava Banahan (Hanleen Crown Jewels) in eighth and ninth-placed Ellen Creed (Interface) both enjoyed good spins, although their final results reflected both time and show jumping penalties.