Honours in the £10,000 Vodafone Grand Prix at Balmoral went to a local pair, Clement McMahon and Hermes De Reve, who also took the Chester Nugent trophy for the best Irish performance.
Four of the 26 starters jumped superb clears in wet and blustery conditions: Edward Little on David Prentices Belvedere; Di Lampard on Master Cruise; Geoff Billington on Pedro VI and Clement McMahon on Hermes De Reve.
In the jump-off the first three riders all faulted, leaving Clement McMahon knowing that he had to go clear. Hermes never touched a fence and Clement brought him home in the fastest time to boot, much to the crowds delight.
Despite missing out in the grand prix, Geoff Billington was the shows leading rider, taking home a state-of-the-art Vodafone mobile phone. Other successes for British riders included a win for Dale Burnham and Cherubin in the AON McMillen Accumulator, while Keith Shore and Querido gained victory in the News Letter Spectacular.
Read this report in full in tomorrow’s Horse & Hound (24 May, ’07)
