SAM MOORE produced his best ever international form to finish a close runner up at the Windsor three day event yesterday. Biding the eight year old Culnagrew, Moore's cross country clear on Saturday elevated him from 15th to second and he maintained that, with a foot perfect round in yesterday's showjumping to finish behind defending champion Pippa Nolan, who was first and third, with her two seven year olds Marshland Rubio and Rainbow Magic.
This top class performance at his first British three day event was some compensation for the Co Derry jockey whose top horse Solomon's Seal collapsed and died at a one day event at Necarne Castle last month.
Young rider team gold medallist, Stuart Crawford, also lost a horse at the same event and was generously offered the ride on Moore's Blackhill Amadeus, which finished 12th at Windsor in his first big test with his new partner. Backing up the two Northern riders were George Mernagh (The Black Touch) in 10th and Jenny Pratt (Halcyon Days) in 11th.
Ireland's showjumpers were also in top form with European champion Peter Charles, Army rider Commandant Gerry Mullins and our latest international star Eric Holstein all scoring wins at the Continental fixtures in Wiesbaden and Bethune.
The home circuit, five times national league winner Francis Connors took the £3,000 Gowran Grand Prix with Diamond Explosion, ahead of Saturday's winner Harry Marshall.
The top Heineken League points on offer in Tralee went to Cork jockey David O'Regan who took yesterday's Grand Prix with Enniskeane Ambassador.
