Equestrain - Irish whitewash at Hickstead as Twomey and Simpson add more wins

Irish riders dominated the major classes at Hickstead’s Royal International show in the UK today (Saturday), scoring three wins to add to a runner-up finish in the Nations Cup at the same venue on Friday, and two victories at the Sussex venue earlier this week.

Billy Twomey was in stunning form winning two competitions, following on from another victory for the Corkman in the Bunn Leisure Trophy on Thursday.

Twomey partnered Diaghilev to victory in Saturday morning’s Bunn Leisure Salver, getting the better of British Speed specialist Guy Williams after a seven horse jump-off.

Twomey scored his third win in the afternoon’s British Speed Classic, guiding the nine-year-old gelding Thomas to victory by the slimmest of margins. They finished one hundredth of a second ahead of Britain’s Ben Maher riding Aristo Z, while Tipperary’s Shane Breen slotted into fifth place with Acoustic Solo Du Baloubet.

The Queen Elizabeth Cup was also won by an Irish rider, with Derry’s David Simpson lifting the famous trophy after he posted the fastest of three double clear rounds with Chessy 17.

Previously restricted to women only, The Queen Elizabeth Cup was opened up to both sexes in 2008, with Simpson becoming the fifth man to lift the historic trophy.

WEDDING BELLS

Simpson now lives in the UK close to Hickstead with fellow show jumper Louise Pavitt, with the pair getting married in two weeks time.

“I have to keep winning classes to pay for the wedding – it certainly keeps you hungry,” commented Simpson.

Saturday’s hat-trick of wins brings to five the total number of Irish victories at Hickstead so far, with Elizabeth Power having taken the top prize in Thursday’s Amlin Plus Eventers Challenge riding the Irish Sport Horse, Doonaveeragh O One.

The Royal International Show at Hickstead comes to a close on Sunday where the feature will be the Longines King George V Gold Cup.

CAMPHIRE INTERNATIONAL

Meanwhile at Camphire International Horse Trials in Co Waterford, Susie Berry is the leading Irish rider in the Castleacre Insurance Brokers CCI2*with Vanir Hello Duca holding fifth place.

Ella Boyle is best of the Irish in the Auto Boland CCI1*, with Candy 737 in third overall, while Felicity Ward and The Illusionist are in provisional fourth place in the GAIN/Alltech CIC3*.

Camphire International Horse Trials and Country Fair conclude on Sunday.