Breen gets Ireland off to perfect start at Hickstead

SHANE BREEN yesterday gave Ireland the perfect start at Hickstead ahead of today’s nations cup, taking two of the three international classes.

Breen, who has been based at the Sussex venue since his marriage to Chloe Bunn three years ago, had almost a second to spare with World Cruise in the opening jump-off class, the Bunn Leisure Trophy, when beating Britain’s Tim Stockdale on Fresh Direct Kalico Bay.

He followed this with victory in The Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix. The competition saw five seconds added to a rider’s time for every fence down and, while Breen and his Aachen Derby winner Dorado II produced one of only two clears, such was his performance he could have lowered a fence and still won.