SLIGO show jumper Richard Howley ended last week in Oliva, Spain on a high note when he claimed victory in the three-star 1.50m Grand Prix. Riding the HK Horses-owned Consulent de Prelet Z, Howley, who was first out over the Javier Trenor Paz-designed course, posted the winning round in 37.33.

Full of praise for the 12-year-old gelding Consulent de Prelet Z, Howley said: “Consulent is a naturally quick horse, he is very careful so you can really trust him at the jumps. He jumped fantastic in the first round. He was in super shape, and it felt like today was the day he could give a good result – so we had a go and the jump-off went our way.

“Consulent is a very good horse and I plan to do some big things with him this year. He already has had some great results last year, and I would like to aim for a few good five-star shows with him this year.”

Speaking about the challenge of being first to go in the jump-off, Howley added: “There are always big distances in a jump-off, so we try to walk them before to know what we can and cannot do. One to two was a leave out for us; it was a normal eight and we did seven there,” he explained.

“We stayed really tight in our turns, and I just followed my horse around the rest of the course. He is very quick off your leg, so I think to the last jump also, I did one less.”

A total of 54 combinations lined out for the final Grand Prix and from those, 14 booked their place in the second round. Against the clock, five of those posted a second clear. Despite their best efforts, those to follow could do nothing about the Irish pair’s time and many fell victims of the rollback to the penultimate vertical as well as the very last oxer situated right in front of The Club.

However, a clear from Teresa Blazquez-Abascal and Nasa de in 38.28 seconds secured the Spanish pair the runner-up position, while Co Mayo’s Michael G Duffy placed third aboard Carl Hanley and Niall Talbot’s talented 10-year-old gelding Clitschko 17 (Christian 25 x Check In 2) in 38.84.

The previous day, Howley finished fourth in the Gold Tour 1.50m jump-off final aboard Mansini Ltd. In a difficult class, the pair were one of six to make it through to the jump-off, where a fence down against the clock left him in fourth place. Victory went to Britain’s William Funnell with Equine America Billy Marmite, one of just two clears in 36.39.

Talbot win

The Irish contingent featured in the line-ups throughout the week. On Thursday, Kildare’s Niall Talbot and Deep Sea Semilly took the win in the 1.30m when they delivered a clear in 56.64 seconds. Talbot added to his haul on Friday as he took first and second in the 1.35m.

He delivered his best result with Deep Sea Semilly, coming home clear in 66.59. Not content with the win he was fractions behind with the 10-year-old mare Doris de l’Oiseliere in 67.64.

Howely was also in the ribbons on Thursday, taking the win in the 1.35m Grand Prix qualifier with the stallion Kolwa, when delivering the fastest clear in 20.50. In fifth place in this line-up was Michael G Duffy and Dalido 8, clear in 21.50.

On Friday, Aisling Byrne and Celeste Spb Z took a third place finish in the 1.30m. They came home with nothing to add in a time of 63.60. On Friday, Byrne was back in the line-up taking fifth place with Chin Cham Cham when they kept all the poles in place in a time of 78.75. Byrne and Celeste Spb added to their record on Saturday, taking third in the 1.30m accumulator; they recorded the maximum score in a time of 55.99.