Irish Eyes Are Smiling at Bolesworth International
Thursday 16 June 2016
Irish eyes were smiling at Bolesworth CSI **** International on Thursday when Marion Hughes won the four-star speed class, sponsored by NFU Mutual.
A bumper field entered the early afternoon feature class, and Hughes showed all her experience to guide Heritage HHS Fortuna hope in a time of 63.93 seconds.
Britain's Keith Shore, riding Zegreanne Z, led the chasing pack in second spot with a time of 64.16, and third went to another British rider - Douglas Duffin - on Chiquito Z.
"I was hoping that I would hold out for the whole class because there were a good few fast ones to go after me," Hughes said.
"My mare is very fast. I didn't do the inside routes - I just decided to keep nice and flowing, and I think it paid off.
"The ground is super. Conditions are perfect - the warm-up is perfect - and the jumping is great. Nobody can complain.
"I've been here before, and I am delighted to be back. I love the show, and I hope to keep coming here."
Dutch showjumper Stefanie van den Brink, meanwhile, had a Bolesworth debut to savour when she landed the four-star opener - a two-phase competition sponsored by Harthill Stud.
And Bolesworth's international appeal was highlighted by the fact that the first five riders represented five different countries - Holland, Egypt, Ireland, Britain and Belgium.
Riding Merida 8, van den Brink's time of 24.49 seconds proved just enough to edge out Egypt's Karim Elzoghby and Colour Girl, with Irish challenger Dermott Lennon (Fleur IV) third, Britain's Harriett Nuttall (Silver Lift) fourth and Belgium's Francois Mathy Jr (Falco van der Clehoeve) taking fifth.
Reflecting on her win, van den Brink said: "I followed my own plan, and it worked out well. We didn't expect to win, but he went really well.
"This is my first Bolesworth. I heard a lot of good things about it, and it is certainly a very enjoyable show."
