Tait double as Griffin’s third a boost for Irish

BLYTH TAIT kept his cool at a balmy Punchestown yesterday to claim a brace of victories, as Niall Griffin lifted Irish spirits with a third to the former world champion in the feature Olympic-format event.

New Zealander Tait opened his account in the CCI three-star yesterday. Having led from the start with 16-year-old Ready Teddy, he jumped clear in the show jumping phase to finish ahead of Briton Polly Stockton (Tom Quigley) and compatriot Chris King (Peaceful Warrior).

In the Olympic-format event, he brought the grey gelding Eze back to the scene of his 2000 two-star triumph to snatch victory in the dying moments from long-time leader Andrew Hoy and Moonfleet. The status quo had been maintained in the first round of show jumping, both lowering one pole, after each had jumped clear in Saturday's cross-country. But, after Tait turned the screw with a second-round show jumping clear, Australian Hoy supplemented his score with another eight penalties to let victory slip away.