America's bid to rout Europe's top show jumpers en route to the Nations Cup league finals in Canada next month paid early dividends at the Kerrygold Horse Show yesterday, with the strains of the Stars and Stripes resounding round the RDS main arena twice after victories by Laura Chapot and team-mate, Beezie Patton. Fellow American, Leslie BurrHoward, had hit the deck in the morning's speed class qualifier and remounted unhurt, but French rider, Annick Chenu, was removed from the arena in a wheelchair with her neck in a brace after a horrible fall when Venus Du Plessis paddled through a fence.
Incredibly, Chenu returned to the fray after a precautionary Xray and gave Laura Chapot a run for her money in the Kerrygold Welcome Stakes when drawn last to go in a 13-horse jump-off.
Chapot, 25-year-old daughter of US Olympic team members, Frank and Mary Chapot, had seen her team-mate, Nona Garson, put in a great bid for the 1,300 winner's purse with Rhythmical.
However, Garson's angle to the final oxer meant she missed the finish and had to double back to stop the clock.
The mistake cost Garson victory as she was given a technical refusal.
Warned by her father, Frank - in his capacity as chef d'equipe of the American team - not to make the same error, Laura Chapot opted for a similar line to the last with Aiko XX.
She managed to turn the 10year-old thoroughbred through the finish and broke the electronic beam on the winning time of 45.28 before buying a piece of the hallowed RDS turf when Biko lost his footing on the rain-soaked ground.
The pair were reunited relatively unscathed, although Aiko had a small cut on his shoulder. Falls in international show jumping events usually result in elimination, but the American duo had already completed their round and the tip-up went unpenalised to leave Chapot muddied but well out in front.
Annick Chenu, obviously suffering no permanent ill-effects for her close encounter with the former Shamrock Rovers pitch.
She gave it her best shot with Baeken Platiere and, although she was more than three seconds off the pace it was enough to leave her runner-up to the American.
Paul Darragh was best of the Irish down in 11th place, but Marion Hughes got a lot closer in the following Kerrygold Speed Stakes, when the American camp once again provided the winner. Beezie Patton, drawn second last of the 24 finalists, slashed more than six seconds off the longstanding target set by Dutch rider Bert Romp.
With just one left waiting in the wings the American was guaranteed a top two finish, but Marion Hughes gave her some worrying moments on her double Queens Cup winner Flo Jo.
The mare responded in brilliant style but, despite the roars of the crowd, the clock told the story as the digital display read 56.86 to leave the Irish challengers second, more than 4 1/2 seconds in arrears.
Harry Marshall, who had won the Welcome Stakes here a year ago, came fourth behind Bert Romp, after picking up a five-second penalty for a knockdown. Keeping the Irish in the hunt, Cameron Hanley was sixth, one place ahead of Erik Holstein.