COMDT Geoff Curran and DHF Alliance (ISH) proved best of 38 starters in the three-star 1.45m speed class on Thursday at week four of the Moura Tours show at Valencia in Spain.

Army rider, Curran, who is from Fenor, Co Waterford, and the nine-year-old bay mare by Ard VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Rosie Bee (ISH), by Lux Z (Hann), bred by Paul Douglas in Co Tyrone and owned by Jessica Stallard and the Minister for Defence, made it look easy, speeding round the course clear in 62.39 seconds. Just 10 combinations managed to leave all the poles intact.

Their nearest rivals, Spain’s Alex Codina Leria on My Passion Vd Donkhoeve, were over three seconds behind, finishing in 65.79 to take the runner-up spot. Third place went to Italy’s Roberto Previtali on Hachiko in 66.54.

Curran and DHF Alliance have had a good run, winning at Dublin Horse Show back in August, the WBFSH Studbook Trophy in Valkenswaard in September and at the Horse Of The Year Show in Birmingham last month.

The one-star 1.20m six-year-old Two-phase Special saw Lt Michaeli Byrne and LMK Derry (ISH) place sixth from 33 starters.

Byrne went on to win Friday’s three-star 1.35m Two-phase Special on HHS Clinstown (ISH). From a start list of 54, 22 managed to jump double clear, but Byrne’s time of 32.60 seconds could not be beaten. Next best was Belgium’s Maverick van Lent on Chanel more than two seconds behind in 34.65.

Saturday saw Byrne take fifth place in the three-star 1.30m Two-phase Special on DDC Ard Rua, with a very quick jump-off time of 33. 87, but an unfortunate pole down costing them the win, which went to Adrian Speight (GBR) on Martins Candy Gold in a time of 34.26.

Byrne went on to win the day’s 1.35m speed class with HHS Clinstown (ISH), when clear in 60.09. From the 43 participants, James Smith (GBR) came closest to catching the Irish combination in a time of 60.13.