Ireland’s Marie Burke won The Longines Classic at the Royal International Horse Show earlier today, riding Chippison.
Despite heavy rain overnight, the International Arena remains in good condition. Four riders went clear in the first round to go forward to the jump off with the two fastest four faulters.
First in for the jump off was Sweden’s Lotta Schultz riding Cadett, who was carrying four faults forward from the first round. She chased the clock from the outset but picked up eight faults along the way to finish sixth. Belgium’s Vincent Lambrecht followed her with the fastest clear round of the jump off, but four faults from the first round left him in fourth place.
Switzerland’s Paul Estermann produced a slightly slower clear to take the lead. Then Britain’s Helen Tredwell, riding her 2003 Foxhunter winner Opportunity B, played safe with a steady clear to move into second at this stage.
Holland’s Willem Greve on Perpetua picked up an unlucky four faults to drop to fifth place, leaving Marie Burke knowing only a fast clear would be enough to win the class. Her home-bred stallion answered every question to come home clear in a time of 43.70sec.
Marie said: “He really likes the big arenas and jumps better in the bigger classes so this really suited him.”
Ireland’s Shane Breen won the Sky Sports Speed Classic on Dorada later in the day, ahead of Ellen Whitaker riding Henri de Herne. They were the only two riders to leave all the fences intact, with Shane crossing the finishing line 1.36sec ahead of Ellen. America’s Georgina Bloomberg finished third with Nadia.
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