Former world champion Dermott Lennon on Loughview Lou Lou won the Sports Council Classic showjumping event from 53 starters on the opening day of the Dublin Horse Show.
The class worth €24,500 saw Banbridge man Lennon collect €8,085 with the Judith Sossick-owned and bred Lou Lou.
There were 16 clears in the first round with fences at about 1.50m-1.60m, with Spanish rider Sergio Alvarez Moya on the classy former Nick Skelton grey gelding Carlo 273 taking second place. Embassy II with German ace Hans Dieter Dreher took third place ahead of team-mate Holger Wulschner on BSC Cavity.
Britain’s Robert Whitaker finished fifth ahead of New Yorker Georgina Bloomberg on board Caleno 3. Ashbourne’s Cian O’Connor and the grey gelding Coco II were eighth.
Thurles showjumper Greg Broderick, a rider who is used to winning in the RDS, stamped his authority on the opening day of the show by winning the Speed Stakes with Elizabeth Shiah’s Irish-bred chestnut gelding MHS Automatic.
Irish-bred showcase
It was a showcase of Irish-bred horses throughout the class which saw Capt Michael Kelly hold the lead for some time on the Co Armagh-bred Drumiller Lough in a time of 56.62 seconds.
However, it was the brilliant son of the Tipperary based stallion Quidam Junior that eventually claimed the class when ridden impeccably by Broderick to finish in 54.74, a fraction faster than US-based Darragh Kenny with highly acclaimed bay gelding Picolo by Diamant Semilly.
Third place went to Co Down’s Conor Swail on Canadian Susan Grange’s Kannan-sired chestnut gelding Simba de La Roque. Billy Twomey on board Joe Flynn’s grey ISH Stallion Ardcolum Gypsy Duke galloped into fourth place.
Broderick’s ambition is to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He is on the five-man squad with MHS Going Global for tomorrow’s Aga Khan competition.
Regina King, manager of Avery Crest Ski Chalets, which sponsored the Speed Stakes, praised the Irish riders. “It was a most enjoyable class with leading international riders and horses. To see Ireland’s riders winning on opening day from 94 starters was amazing and great for spectators. Avery Crest will be committing to the sport again for next year.”
Four-year-old qualifier
Leading Galway showjumping producer Deirdre Bourns, despite being wheelchair- bound from an accident, saw her Sea Topblue with Jenny Rankin win the Horsesport Ireland four-year-old qualifier at the RDS.
Rankin took the prestigious event ahead of Cullintra Stud’s Quantino owned by Kilkenny’s Vincent Byrne.
Ethen Ahearne partnered ESI Star Struck for third place ahead of HHS Athena owned by Clare Hughes and ridden by Maria Vozone Vilar.
Derry GP John McLaughlin, who was competing for the first time in the RDS main arena when he took part in the Speed Stakes, is a newcomer to international showjumping.
The 35-year-old from Eglinton gained his place with Java’s Wild Child when he finished overall runner-up in the National Premier Grand Prix series.
“It is my first ever experience to compete in a Dublin main arena event. My horse has been consistent all year and although I work full time as a GP I have only been showjumping at this level recently,” he said.
McLaughlin said he trains himself from YouTube videos but has had a few lessons from Peter Smyth in Victoria Bridge, Strabane.
“I am looking forward to competing again in the main arena. My horse had only one down in the first speed class and I am delighted,” he said.
