First blood to Coyle at Millstreet, and maybe more to come

Jordan Coyle was made to sweat at a sunny Millstreet International Horse Show yesterday, as he watched his rivals try their utmost to unseat him from the top of the leaderboard in the second international class.

It was close in the end, with the Derry native retaining first place by seven-hundredths of a second following a power-house performance on the diminutive Amigo vh Winkenshof Z, with Britain’s Beth Vernon on Omane des Faux his main challenger, followed by Ireland’s Angela Percy on Westland Ruby.

Coyle said he had reason to be nervous as Vernon and Percy gave it their all, though Jim Maneely’s nine-year-old bay gelding has provided him with a number of wins this year, including the Munster Grand Prix at Cork Summer Show last month.