Irish show jumpers recorded five major international victories across three continents over the weekend, underlining the depth and consistency of Ireland’s presence at the top end of the sport.

Shane Breen capped the week with the most high-profile success, winning the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Abu Dhabi with BP Arctic Blue. Competing against a starting field of 50 at the four-star fixture at Al Forsan International Sports Resort, the Tipperary rider delivered the only double-clear performance of the competition to secure the €80,000 first prize.

Thirteen combinations progressed to the second round, but Breen and his 10-year-old gelding repeated their opening-round accuracy to take the win from an early draw. Fellow Irish rider Mikey Pender finished fourth with HHS Los Angeles, while David Simpson also reached the second round.

“I knew a lot of fast combinations were to follow, so the plan was just to stick to what I had,” Breen said afterwards.

In the United States, Bertram Allen claimed two wins at the four-star show at Wellington International in Florida. The Wexford rider partnered Eddy Blue to victory in the $116,000 Challenge Cup Round III, producing a clear jump-off round in 48.68 seconds from an 11-horse decider. He followed that by winning Saturday’s 1.50m speed class with Zero K, while also placing inside the top five with Kadans in both competitions.

Irish riders were again prominent in American five-star competition. Shane Sweetnam finished second in the $215,000 Grand Prix at Wellington, narrowly denied victory after a double-clear performance with Rural Juror SCF. At Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California, Conor Swail secured third place in the $340,000 five-star Grand Prix with Casturano, one of just four combinations to jump double clear over the 1.60m track.

Elsewhere in the US, Philip McGuane continued his strong run of form at Ocala, winning Friday’s 1.45m Winning Round with My Lady Van De Krekel and finishing second in a Grand Prix qualifier earlier in the week.

European competition also delivered Irish victories. Jack Ryan won a three-star 1.45m class in Vejer de la Frontera with Keatingstown Mister Cool, while Niall Talbot led home an Irish one-two in a three-star jump-off class in Oliva, winning with Charming Dream Z ahead of Eoin McMahon.

Across Abu Dhabi, the United States and Spain, the results represented a sustained run of podium finishes and victories, reinforcing Ireland’s status as one of the leading nations in international show jumping.

 

Image Credit: Horse Sport Ireland

 

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