BRITISH riders, keen to make up for their near shut-out in Balmoral, virtually swept the boards at the Ecclesville Derby meeting in Fintona, Tyrone, over the weekend.
Mennell Watson, originally from Crossgar but now living in and riding for Britain, took home the £2,000 winner's purse in yesterday's Derby after a two-way jump-off with compatriot Martin Lucas.
Drawn second to go, Watson and the Clover Hill gelding Uptons LB sliced almost two seconds off the target set by Lucas and the veteran Irish-bred Senator Lannegan, formerly campaigned by David Broome.
Keith Shore, winner of Saturday's Derby Trial with just Millstreet, rode the same Irish export to win yesterday's top score and only Conor Swail, who claimed two of the Balmoral classes, including the Grand Prix, could stem the British tide when winning Saturday's opener with the in-form Lisna Tutor.
European champion Peter Charles had the best of it on the continental circuit, finishing third in yesterday's Munich Grand Prix with La Ina. Marian Hughes and Flo Jo were fifth in the Eindhoven Derby.
