Clones rider Clement McMahon drew first blood for Ireland at the Kerrygold Horse Show yesterday, but British visitor John Whitaker took the main honours when galloping the stallion Virtual Village Randi to claim the feature Kerrygold Welcome Stakes - a welcome start to his 43rd birthday celebrations.
Whitaker, who has been the mainstay of the British team for almost 20 years, was one of 24 that found the key to Brian Henry's first-round track. Both Eddie Macken and Di Lampard opted to save their ammunition for later in the week, but there were still a marathon 22 through to the decider.
James Fisher, who has already booked his slot on Britain's World Equestrian Games squad with a 100 per cent record in the three selection trials staged so far, set the early target with the Dutch-bred Renville when stopping the clock on 35.87 seconds. But America's sole representative, Peter Wylde, slashed over halfa-second off that with the oddly coloured and even more oddly named Macanudo Very Well St George to snatch the advantage.
Wylde's lead held good until three from the end, when Whitaker trounced the opposition with a scorching round from the 13-year-old Randi to claim the £1,300 winner's cheque by more than half-a-second.
Whitaker, who declared himself "thrilled" with the win, is planning to ride the 10-year-old Irish export, Diamond Cliff, today with a view to running the Blue Cliff gelding in tomorrow's Kerrygold Nations Cup. But he believes that Randi, usually a speed class specialist, could be a suitable replacement if called upon to do team duty.
Francis Connors was best of the Irish in fifth place with Sure Coin, but the earlier spotlight had been turned on Clement McMahon, current leader in the national Land Rover series. McMahon, who rode his top horse, Jokers Girl, into 13th in the Welcome Stakes, had proved unbeatable in the opening Kerrygold Speed Stakes, when Hilton Clover had headed a trio of Irish-breds.
Army jockey Capt Gerry Flynn slotted the mare Diamond Explosion into second, with Tom Slattery third on Clover Brigade. Belgium's Philippe Lejeune, who followed the Irish home in the opener, moved up the placings in the Kerrygold Top Flight, but had to settle for second behind his compatriot James Peeters.
Eddie Macken, who had opened his account with victory in the national Grade A yesterday morning, continued in winning vein when taking the jockeys versus jumpers competition by over five seconds from team-mate Peter Charles. His grey bore a resemblance to his Grade A winner La Bamba and certainly had a turn of foot lacking in his rivals' mounts.
British jockey Graham Bradley was best of the short stirrup brigade, overcoming the handicap of broken reins before the start to finish third.