INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BREEN HITS TOP FORM IN PORTUGAL

IRELAND’S Shane Breen rode the 12-year-old Z7 Ipswich (formerly Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker, pictured right) to a tremendous victory in the fourth grand prix of the CSI3* Champions Tour in Vilamoura.

Only two riders produced double clears, and Hickstead-based Shane powered home nearly a second quicker than Luciana Diniz with Conchento PS for Portugal. Michael Duffy (Zilton SI Z) produced the fastest round in the six-way jump-off but with one down, and Britain’s John Whitaker notched up another good grand prix result, this time taking fifth with Unick Du Francport.

“It was a very good grand prix– when I walked the course, the heights looked very good, quite technical, but I was surprised there were only six clear rounds,” said Shane. “The jump-off was quite a galloping course. I was a little annoyed with myself that from the second jump back to the third I was a bit slow and to the last fence – he’s a bit shy to go in to the corners and I couldn’t dare to get him up on the six strides, so I left the door open. I thought Michael Duffy was very unlucky – last to go, he had my time beaten, and Luciana Diniz’s horse jumped superbly as well.

“All in all, I’m thrilled with the result, I think Ipswich is a fantastic horse who has had many great wins,” added Shane, who also won the grand prix qualifier earlier in the week. “Ipswich will have a rest next week then I do the four-star grand prix with him and he’s on the Irish team for the Nations Cup here.”

Other big winners this week included Poppy Stronge (Lucky 3), Laura Mantel (NPS Andre), Laura Renwick (Maverick), and Ireland’s Conor Swail riding Koss Van Heiste landed a competitive 1.45m speed class in impressive style.