A total of 72 horse and rider combinations rode into the CSI4 star 1m45 Horseware Ireland class here at The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show today.
The winning round was posted by Belgium’s Pedro Junqueira Muylaert, riding ChieF Tibri Z Mfs.
It was Ireland’s Equitop Myoplast Puissance winner from Friday evening, Shane Breen, who first set the pace on board Can Ye Makan, stopping the clock on 55.02. Harry Charles riding the first of his two horses, Victor, followed shortly after to take the lead on a clock time of 54.11.
Harry held the lead until Great Britain’s Keith Sure gave a performance that proved the one to beat with 52.80 seconds on the clock, riding Iron Lady Van T Meulenhof.
American rider and daughter to the founder of Apple, Eve Jobs, was the next rider who looked set to challenge the leading rider’s score with a super quick round. On board her own KWPN gelding, Charleville, Eve stopped the clock on 53.86, just a little over a second slower than Keith Sure. Eve has competed with success throughout the week here with Charleville, Venue d’Fees des Hazalles and Limbridge.
Leading lady showjumper, Laura Renwick who is known for her speed and accuracy, made the decision to retire her horse VDL Groep Alitta, mid-course.
John Whitaker and stallion Argento were next into the arena to ride a quick, clear round. The well known and admired combination looked set to contest the leading riders clock score. However, although the clock score of 53.43 seconds wasn’t enough to snatch the lead, it was enough to knock Eve Job’s down a place, proving Keith’s round was going to be a difficult one to beat.
Pedro was the 48th rider in to tackle the class which boasted a grand selection of top-class riders from around the world. Stopping the clock 0.04 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s Keith Shaw, the Belguim based rider had managed to claim the lead with only 24 riders left to go.
Harry Charles on board his second ride, Vivaldi du Dom, along with Matthew Sampson, Jack Whitaker and Anthony Condon were all to follow, none of whom were able to finish on a quicker time.
