McMahon lands German Grand Prix win

Clare native Eoin McMahon scored one of the biggest wins of his career, when he came out on top in Sunday’s 1.55m Volkswagen three-star Grand Prix at Braunschweig, Germany. Riding the Madeleine Winter-Schulze-owned Chacon 2, McMahon came out on top after a 13-horse jump-off to take the winner’s prize of a new car valued at over €43,000. A brilliant jump-off round saw him finish almost three seconds clear of German runner-up Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking with Querido.

It was an Irish one-two in the 1.45m Medium Tour Grand Prix at Vejer de la Frontera in Spain. Carlow’s Jason Foley took victory after a double clear round with Madorada, while Tipperary’s Max Wachman also jumped double clear with Sea Coast Atlantic to finish as runner-up.

Irish Sport Horses dominated the three-star 1.45m speed class at the same venue. Dermott Lennon took victory with MJM Pursuit (ISH) while fourth place went to Mikey Pender with HHS Javas Gucci (ISH). Alexander Butler also took sixth place for Ireland with Pico (ISH). The feature three-star Grand Prix in Vejer saw Waterford’s Anthony Condon take fourth place with SFS Vincomte behind British winner Holly Smith riding Hearts Destiny.

At Valencia in Spain, Mayo’s Alex Duffy and The Irish Sport Horse FTS Killossery Konfusion took runner-up spot in the three-star Grand Prix. They finished just under a second behind French winner Aurelien Leroy with Vendome d’Ick.

Four-star win for McCarthy in Portugal

Irish eventing riders enjoyed an excellent weekend at Barroca D’Alva in Portugal, with Tipperary’s Padraig McCarthy landing the feature four-star competition. McCarthy and the 10-year-old gelding Leonidas II, owned by Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell, moved up from second after cross country to score a win in the CCI4*-L. Cathal Daniels took third with the Irish Sport Horse OLS King Aragon.

Daniels impressed again in the CCI4*-S. He partnered the Sarah Hughes-owned Shannondale Percy (ISH) to fourth place. In the CCI2*-L at Barroca, Michael Ryan took second place with TR Kaygraff, while Austin O´Connor finished fourth with Isazsa.

Upcoming sale

The first sport horse performance sale of 2020 takes place on Wednesday 18 March at Goresbridge. It will include ponies, showjumpers, eventers, hunters, riding horses, broken and unbroken four-year-olds and three-year-olds. There are 200 lots on offer. Performance at 10am, with the sale due to commence at 11am. Catalogue now available online at www.irishhorse.com. For further information phone 059- 9775145.