British and Irish riders have had a successful weekend competing abroad.
Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Denis Lynch all took classes at the five-star Equita Lyon, France (1-4 November).
Ben and his new ride Vadeline won the opening class, the two-phase Prix Ville de Lyon. Vadeline, previously ridden by Scott Smith has only been with Ben for a month.
“The plan is to build her up and hopefully she’ll win big. I have enough top horses now to vary them,” he said.
The Prix Land Rover accumulator went to fellow Olympic gold medallist Scott Brash with Bon Ami — the pair’s fourth international win in a month.
Denis Lynch and Night Train took the speed class. “He’s naturally very quick and it’s always good to win at a show like this,” said Denis.
At the CSI*** in Liège, Belgium, Robert Whitaker took first place in the 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier with Mandy Hall’s and Clare Whitaker’s 11-year-old bay stallion USA Today. Robert then won the 1.40m Accumulator with Clare and John Whitaker’s nine-year-old stallion Catwalk IV
And in the Liege Grand Prix, worth €80,000, Robert’s father, John, took the top spot with Argento, producing the fastest of the only five double clears.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, British rider Tim Gredley won the puissance at the Alltech National Horse Show, Kentucky, topping 7ft with 10-year-old Unex Valente.
It was Tim’s first win in a puissance and he took home the $14,000 first prize. And it was the first attempt at a puissance for Valente.
For full report from Lyon see Thursday’s (8 November) issue of H&H.
For Liege and Kentucky, see 15 November issue.
