Alexander Butler has weekend to remember with tremendous double
Butler made it a weekend double with Vimminka yesterday claming top prize in the TRM/Horseware Grand Prix at Balivor Show, Co Meath.
Thirteen of the 16-strong entry made the jump-off in Cork, with one of the favourites Greg Broderick and Golden Exchange among the three that went out of contention on four faults.
Butler and the 13-year-old mare Vimminka returned the fastest of six second-round clears, finishing with over a second to spare over Nottingham-based Corkman Billy Twomey, with the mare Tinka’s Serenade showing no signs of her 18 years when second fastest in the competition.
Kildare also provided third place through Nicola FitzGibbon and Georgina Forbes’s Poker De Dames.
The Devenish Puissance saw Tipperary’s Liam O’Meara with Cisero and Wexford’s Jason Higgins riding Hadine Van’t Zorgvliet share the spoils, both clearing 2.15mtr.
It was a worthwhile trip to Cork for Co Down’s Victoria McKee, who had an easy win in the West Wood Ifor Williams Amateur Speed Class on Carrigeen Mos.
The closest challenger was Tipperary’s Joanna Penfold, who was almost two-and-a-half seconds off the pace with her own King Cruise, while Cork’s Joanna Maher and Lissangle Royale Jade filled third spot.
The final of the inaugural Jumping In The City series takes place at Shelbourne Park on June 26 and among those to qualify is Horse Sport Ireland chairman Pat Wall, who placed eighth in the amateur contest on the borrowed horse Trebor Tell Me More.
The Jumping In The City concept is designed to demonstrate the appeal of show jumping to non-followers while opening up greyhound tracks to other uses.
Cian O’Connor put up four faults in the grand prix jump-off at Cork with Quidam’s Cherie, but he then made his way to the two-star show in Lier, Belgium, where he rode Dorado to second place in the grand prix.
It was a similar story for Twomey, who travelled to the two-star show in Allington, Kent, and finished second with Ardcolum Duke in the grand prix behind American veteran Laura Kraut on Cavalia.
A trio of Irish riders failed to make headway it the Global Champions Tour contest in Cannes, France. Bertram Allen and All Quiet 4 had eight faults in the opening round, Denis Lynch and Ho Go van de Padenborre racked up 16 faults, while Darragh Kenny and Valencia retired.
At Spruce Meadows in Canada, Conor Swail had praise for the 10-year-old mare Viva Colombia after she helped the Co Down rider put a string of second and third-place finishes behind him with victory at the five-star show.
“I am just getting to get to know her and I think she is a very nice horse. The plan is for her to be a grand prix horse. Kirsten Coe rode her in a few big classes in Florida, so the mare has had that experience, but it is a new relationship for me.
"I like to teach them to be able to go fast and run and win also, so it is nice to do the 1.45mtr and 1.50mtr competitions, as well just to get to know the horse. She really is learning fast with me. She does what she is asked every time she comes out, so I am very pleased.”
Mayo’s Michael G Duffy followed up with a second place in a 1.40mtr jump-off on Eminent.
At Bramham Horse Trials in Yorkshire, Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound jumped clears in cross-country and show jumping to finish in fourth place on 46.1 penalties in the CCI three-star.
