Irish wins aplenty

By Michael Slavin

Captain Shane Carey struck form with Killossery to score a good double at Lummen in Belgium last weekend. Also winning there was Anthony Condon on Je T'Aime Flamenco. Meantime, Cameron Hanley and SIEC Livello had a first at Arezzo in Italy. Marion Hughes retained her good run of success at Vilamoura when scoring in Sunday's Grand Prix with HHS Cheiro.

Earlier in this second week of his visit to the Spring Tour at the Belgian venue, Captain Carey and Killossery came second behind Britain's Douglas Duffin. In Suturday's main 1.40m class, he turned the tables on the British when powering home winner by nearly two seconds ahead of Ellen Whitaker. On Sunday, he was again the winner of the 1.40m jump-off, this time in front of Ireland's Shane Breen on the Irish-bred Royal Concorde. Anthony Condon's win on Je T'aime Flamenco came in Thursday's 1.40m jump-off. At Arezzo, Italy, Hanley's win at 1.45m came on Sevil Sabanci and Gerry Mullins's nine-year-old stallion SIEC Livello. In the five-horse jump-off from a start list of 34, he had just fractions of a second to spare over Pedro Costa of Brazil. Also getting into the prizes in Italy were Damien Dixon and Thomas, who were jumping last weekend in Pioltello.

Marion Hughes continued her superb form on the Irish-bred Cheiro at Vilamoura, Portugal. In Saturday's main event, she came second to home rider Malta da Costa. But in Sunday's Grand Prix she was the clear winner and also placed ninth with with Good Lucky Girl.