SHOWJUMPING COMPETITION:LADIES' DAY came early yesterday in the international arena as Laura Kraut and Lauren Hough claimed two out of three classes, while Billy Twomey kept the Irish flag flying.
US ace Laura Kraut, one of the best lady riders in the world, stamped her mark on the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show opening day with a win on her bay mare Dona Evita from 43 starters in the Fáilte Stakes.
It was team colleague Lauren Hough who later claimed the Irish Sports Council Classic despite a brave attempt on the winner’s purse by Irishwoman Nicola Fitzgibbon, who was one of 21 clear.
Showjumping enthusiasts congregated on the main arena to view the cream of five-star horses and riders who enjoyed warm weather and excellent ground conditions. Kraut, the partner of British rider Nick Skelton, was unstoppable to win in 60.41 collecting €1,500 for her efforts and beating British rider Robert Smith with the grey gelding Balourado clear in 62.09.
Capt David O’Brien, a dominant figure in Dublin prize-givings for the Army Equitation School, gave a superb display with the Co Armagh-bred Drumiller Lough for third place in 63.98. Drumiller Lough was a silver medalist in the young horse world championships two years ago and a Millstreet four-year-old Discovery champion. He was bred by Paul Dillon, a previous RDS medal-winner for breeding showjumpers, and is competing in four-year-olds this week with a half-brother of Drumiller Lough.
The main arena, a leading global venue for five-star showjumping, was a mass of colour as riders walked each course and spectators were able to have a conducted walk with Comdt John Ledingham who used a microphone and communicated on the course via headphones for each walker.
Cork rider Billy Twomey on the Galway-bred Cavinem was winner of the Bewley’s Hotel Speed Stakes with Co Down rider, Conor Swail, taking runner-up slot on the brilliant Coulthard. Cavinem was sired by the deceased Irish stallion Cavalier Royale, which stood with John Hughes near Dublin and has been a consistent winner with Twomey in Europe.
From 34 horses, Twomey as second-last to jump produced the fastest clear in 57.98 to collect €3,100, just two seconds faster than the Malahide-based Swail.
Deauville rider Patrice Delaveau, a veteran winner on the five-star circuit, was third with Baritchou Dbt to occupy third place in 60.95 while the talented Meath rider Alex Duffy with Courtown was in the money with a fourth place while Cian O’Connor on Shooting Star was sixth.
Nicola Fitzgibbon had her best result to date in Dublin when she finished best of the Irish and fifth from 57 starters in the Irish Sports Council Classic, collecting €1,750 with Puissance.
The Kilteal engineering graduate, who is on the five-rider squad for the Aga Khan trophy on Friday, opened with a superb clear round and led the jump-off for a time on 44.91.
US rider Lauren Hough with Blue Angel eventually overhauled everyone to win €7,500 with a stunning time of 40.29. French veteran Michel Robert on Kellemoi de Pepita, last year’s Chantilly Grand Prix winner, finished second in 41.38 ahead of German Rene Tebbel on Chevignon and John Whitaker with the stallion Peppermill.
The Horsesport Ireland six-year-old class saw Kilkenny horsewoman Marion Hughes record a win on HHS Flo, owned by her mother Anne, beating the former RDS four-year-old champion Derryinver Lough Cruise with North Antrim veteran Harry Marshall on board.