Trevor Breen lands his first Grand Prix win with Highland President at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International
Tuesday 30 June 2026
.JPG "Trevor Breen lands his first Grand Prix win with Highland President at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International")
Trevor Breen wrenched victory from his brother Shane in the final moments in an exciting, edge-of-your-seats showdown Al Shira’aa 3* Grand Prix at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International.
Course-designer Colm Quinn set a demanding test with tall verticals, wide oxers and technical lines in his 13-fence, 16-effort 1.55m track. Fences fell throughout, but the final line of double to a huge oxer on a related distance to finish claiming several victims. Joe Whitaker posted the first clear on Hulahupe JR to huge appreciative cheers from the crowd, but they had to wait for another 11 horses before a jump-off was confirmed. An eventual nine of the original field of 40 made their way into round two; four British and three Irish joined by The USA and the UAE providing an international battle.
Joe Whitaker set a storming benchmark in the opening round on Hulahupe JR, but a slight error at the penultimate fence tapped out a pole and they finished with an awe-inspiring time but regrettably, four faults.
“With so many good, fast riders behind me, I had to go for it, but I came on a bit of an angle to that fence; it was my fault,” lamented Joe, afterwards.
It wasn’t until four horses later a clear was evident, Shane Breen on Scarteen determined to regain his title two years ago. And as four faults was announced time and again, Shane looked poised to take the win. His brother Trevor had other ideas. Riding Highland President, owned and bred by his wife Caroline and her parents and renowned as a clear round afficionado in Nations Cup competitions, Trevor not only produced a clear round, but wiped 0.26 seconds from the time to make it an Irish one-two.
“I don’t usually like going last, but it worked in my favour. I didn’t watch, but kept hearing four faults, and Shane was pretty shady with advice, but I like to stick to my own plan with him [Highland President]. He’s not the quickest and nobody would be shaking in their boots because I was last to go. Joe was quick bit had one down and everyone was chasing the time, and it was to my advantage,” said Trevor. “I’m over the moon he’s won; it’s actually his first international Grand Prix win.”
Trevor went on to praise Bolesworth and Managing Director Nina Barbour: "I'd like to thank Nina and the whole Bolesworth team, and of course Al Shira'aa for their incredible support. The prize money over these two weeks is fantastic and it's a real pleasure to compete at a show like this in such an incredible venue here in the UK. I'm really proud to have won this Grand Prix."
Shane was quick to congratulate his brother: “I’m delighted he won but I think I handed it to him, I should have gone on nine strides to the last,” he said. “The course-builder did an amazing job and the global sponsorship Al Shira’aa give is fantastic.”
Joe was still pleased with third: “It’s never easy going first but going for a steady clear was not on the cards. I think the world of my horse; he’s been a great servant over our nine years together. He’s always been good, but I’ve seemed to work him out recently. He’s more experienced now and jumped at this level for the past two years. It has just been little adjustments – a little less pressure and a little more canter. Having my father [Steve] at home has made the difference; he’s an amazing man on the ground and as my Dad, he’s on my side and wants the best for me.”
Holly Smith and the talented Nike Van Het Singraven landed the Grosvenor Insurance 1.50m. Forty-four came forward over the 1.50m track and 11 found the key to return for the jump-off. Olli Tuff set the benchmark on Sacino but was edged out by Graham Babes (Monks I Am Casall) before Jack Whitaker nipped in front on the eye-catching Skyfall OS.
Nonetheless, Holly and the impressive Andiamo Semilly eight-year-old proved deceptively quick to take the win by 0.86 seconds. In a late bid, Olivia Sponer eased Bingo Du Chateau into third.
"He’s only eight, so to come into a 1.50m ranking class on the first day was a big ask," said Holly on the exciting young horse who has progressed through the HOYS national finals. "There's so much for them to look at in that arena, so I was delighted just to go clear. Once we'd made it into the second round, I thought we may as well really give it a go."
One dramatic moment almost brought the round undone when the gelding misjudged the oxer, leaving Holly briefly unbalanced.
"We landed, I had my face on his neck, looked up and realised I still had a distance to the next fence, so we just kept going. To still be on was great – taking the lead was an added bonus."
Holly was also delighted with a winning return on Fruselli in the Falcon Cranes 3* 1.35m seven-horse decider.
“He’s back with a bang after almost two years out of the ring; I couldn’t love him anymore,” she said.
Matt Sampson was another who doubled up. He headed the final day’s world ranking Hird & Partners 3* 1.45m aboard Nouvelle V.H. Veldhof. The 68 starters were reduced to just eight for the jump-off, the 13-year-old Cooper Van De Heffinck x Calido I mare recording a 1.31 second advantage. Tim Gredley guided Romulus De Muze into second with William Funnell claiming third on Billy Tu Tu.
The concluding 1* 1.35m Final also fell to Matt as nine of the original 32 starters contended the jump-off, the eight-year-old Locarno 62 x Clinton stallion firing into the top spot by 1.86 seconds.
Mark Edwards dominated the J Safra Sarasin 3* 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier with lightning speed with the home-bred Tinkers Touch. Fifty-seven riders set out in this Longines World Ranking speed class with William Whitaker setting an early target on Cristallo’s Double Take.
Times gradually became shorter, but no-one could match Mark. In an incredible round on the the exciting Tornesch x Tinkas Boy nine-year-old, he wiped more than six seconds off the time. The USA’s Laura finished second on Carquilara PS with Mark Bunting slipping Kiaminka into third.
"He was great," he said. "He kept a really good rhythm from the start. I was able to keep everything nice and tight and quick, everything just flowed, and he gave me a fantastic round. I'm delighted."
Double winner Madison Heath was crowned Hastens Under 25 champion with BP Millionaire in a five-horse decider, the Million Dollar x Centurion eight-year-old securing victory by just 0.69 seconds. The UAE’s Mabkhout Owaida Alkirbi finished second on Casallcina Z and Marnie Green provided the steadiest of the double clears for third with Pewit Dezesseis.
Madison also claimed the Actiph Water Seven-year-old Final with a flying round on the Christian 25 daughter Dakota. Thirteen from a field of 50 battled for supremacy in the jump-off, but Madison dismissed any challenges to win by 0.73 seconds. Glain Watkin Jones jumped Asca Star VM Z into second.
James Smith jumped Juno Rose 23 to the top of the 74-entry Hird & Partners 1.40m two-phase, the 12-year-old Erdento mare flying to victory by 0.92 seconds. Mark Edwards had to settle for second on Tinkers Touch and Fergal Holohan slotted CES Celtic Son into third.
"She is so naturally quick, so I knew if I did my job she'd be hard to beat," said James.
Precision and power came into play in a four-way finish in the Equiyd Puissance. Eleven riders set out to conquer the big red wall in front of an enthusiastic audience, and the competition intensified as it steadily increased in height. After drama when bricks hit the floor at 1.95m to mark a competitor’s timely exit, only four combinations were left to return for the fifth and final round to face 2.10m.
Paul Sims came agonisingly close when Marshmallow dislodged the upper bricks. Morgan Shirley, who had travelled up from Brighton with Brendon Stud’s Klaris Ride On, brushed bricks out of the top of the wall, and David Simpson’s bid on Kolman VDP ended in similar fashion.
All eyes turned to the Queen of Puissance Rachel Proudley, and the crowd held their breath as she approached the wall, but French Connection displaced one single coping stone to deny them an outright win. Instead, Bolesworth celebrated four joint winners.
Anthony Condon landed the Six-year-old title in a hot, competitive jump-off of 22 by the tiny fraction of 0.4 seconds on a horse that almost escaped him. Lisa Hales bred SFS Dodged‘Em (Escape Z x Magic Darco) but placed the youngster in the Brilliant Auction. Her Mum Pat was having none of that with one of her favourites and promptly bought the promising gelding out of the auction.
Anthony claimed ride last year with their first show at Hickstead 12 months ago.
“He’s a character – he has a habit of pooing up the wall – but he’s a lovely person and very easy-going; he’s happy with the children playing around him and he’s progressed at each show yet he’s still green,” said Anthony. “I didn’t want to blow his brain in the jump-off but he took it all in.”
Anthony has watched an early round of Jake Myers – who was based with Anthony for the past two years until recently setting up on his own – on Pascia Is My Name (O’Neill Van’t Eigenlo x Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve) and had a plan despite Dodged ‘Em’s inexperience.
“I knew if I went a little tighter to the vertical across the middle, I could catch the time,” added Anthony, on the half-brother to SFS Vincomte whom he rode to five-star Global Champions Tour level. “He’s very blood but not as tricky as Vincomte; I think he has all the potential to be competitive at every level.”
Keith Shore – winner of two Six-year-old qualifiers with Riaux D’Emeraud (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Indoctro) – had to settle for third.
Joe Whitaker seized a victory double, topping the 47-horse 3* 1.35m two-phase on the 10-year-old Seaview Evolution (FSS Correlli Bravo x Castlelawn Galloway) with just 0.07 sec to spare, denying Mark Edwards on Dillinger NE another win. Joe also collected a Seven-year-old speed win aboard Oorone (Highway TN x Indoctro) with 1.90 seconds in hand.
Sandy McLean doubled up with the Eldorado VD Zeshoek 12-year-old Jip B in the Balfours 1* 1.30m classes, beating 95 rivals in the early speed by almost four seconds and the following day’s two-phase with 1.61 seconds in hand.
Tia Posner returned triumphant in the Cheval Liberte Amateur 1.15m Final with half second in hand on the 14-year-old Happy-Fomia (Spartacus x Verdi TN).
Annie Salthouse fired a warning shot as to her intentions with a win on Elita in the Amateur 1.05m and promptly won the CG Professional Amateur 1.05m Final aboard the Inshallah De Muze 14-year-old Hirence, using her final draw to post a half second advantage.
