THE Irish were on form in France last week, as a number of combinations lined out at Chantilly Classic CSI4*, which ran from July 10th to 13th, with wins and placings being achieved.

The highlight was when Derry’s Jordan Coyle and King Kannan GP won the two-star 1.40m class on Saturday from a start list of 59. Just eight combinations jumped clear in the first round to proceed to the jump-off, with only six leaving the fences intact second time around.

In a close finish, Coyle sped round the course in the fastest time of 39.69 seconds to snatch victory from French runner-up, Alexa Ferrer on Vitalhorse Fleur D’Oz, who finished less than half a second behind in 40.02. Third place went to Italy’s Giampiero Garofalo on Kensington H (40.14).

On Friday, Tyrone’s Emily Turkington rode Vanilla to win the Young Horse one-star 1.40m class out of 44 starters, with a double clear in a jump-off time of 41.80 seconds. The combination had a decisive win over Belgian runner-up Yves Vanderhasselt on Pepper Vitseroel Z, who finished over two seconds behind in 44.02 seconds. There were only four double clears in the class. Galway’s Jessica Burke and Romelus De Muze came sixth with one of just eight first round clears, but the pair incurred an unfortunate four faults second time out.

Emily Turkington on Vanilla won the Young Horse one-star 1.40m class at Chantilly Classic on Friday \ Sportfot

Ribbons

Burke started as she meant to go on at the venue on Wednesday, when from 70 starters she was a joint-winner of the Young Horse one-star 1.30m class, with Romelus De Muze. Then, in the four-star 1.40m class, Burke placed fifth on board African Affair.

Thursday saw Shane Breen take the runner-up spot with BP Arctic Blue in the Young Horse one-star 1.35m class, while in the two-star 1.40m class, Coyle placed fourth with King Kannan GP, followed by Wexford’s Harry Allen on Balouwinsky in sixth.

In Friday’s two-star 1.45m class, Jenny Rankin placed eighth with Ibiza, while in the one-star 1.15m class Frederick Goltz on Galileo Z placed ninth and in the one-star 1.30m class, Elsbeth Goltz took eighth and ninth places on Ikaberlina RV and Grandios O respectively. Allen and Balouwinsky placed seventh in the two-star 1.35m class.

Saturday commenced with a one-star 1.20m class that saw Frederick Goltz place 10th with Jobluno Rock, while Burke and Express Trend finished ninth in the four-star 1.40m class.