Peter Charles, whose reign as European show jumping champion comes to an end tomorrow, may not have had a horse of sufficient calibre to defend his title in Mannheim, but Blue Bayou provided sufficient horse power for the Hampshire-based Irishman to claim the Derby Trial at Millstreet yesterday.

Bad weather has forced the entire programme at this Derby meeting to be moved indoors, and delayed the arrival of Charles and several other international riders at the Co Cork venue as their horseboxes were stranded at storm-bound British ports.

However, arriving with just a couple of hours to spare, Charles maintained the home side's 100 per cent strike rate when he scored the fourth successive Irish victory of the show in the Waterford Crystal Derby Trial.

With 15 horses through to the deciding round, this was always going to be a hard fought contest. But, never one to shrink from a challenge, Charles took the quick route to the third fence, a double, and succeeded here where many others had failed. Although losing a stirrup on the long gallop to the oxer three from home, he kept up a good gallop to cross the finish clear in the winning time of 36.70.

Crossgar, Co Down, rider Mennell Watson, who is now based in England had set an early lead of a clear in 37.27, but was demoted by Charles, with Captain Gerry Flynn third on Carraig Dubh (41.54).

Earlier yesterday Harry Marshall had taken the Moffett Engineering speed stakes with the American-owned mare, Cruiseline, whose sire, Cruising, is representing Ireland at the European championships this week. The mare, an eight-year-old, chalked up her third international win of the season.

Moffett Engineering speed - 1, Ireland's Cruiseline (H. Marshall); 2, Britain's Red Wharf Chollette (Mennell Watson); 3, Ireland's Ringwood Magic (Peter Charles).

Waterford Crystal Derby Trial - 1, Ireland's Blue Bayou (Peter Charles); 2, Britain's Uptons LB (Mennell Watson); 3, Ireland's Carraig Dubh (Captain Gerry Flynn).