Balmoral International Show kicked off on Tuesday with the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix. Leading the victory lap and taking the winner’s share of the €4,000 in the SHS Group and the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council-sponsored class was Greg Broderick. Riding Lisa Cawley’s Golden Exchange, he lodged the winning round when clear in 38.12 seconds. It has been a good month for Broderick, finishing third in the €300,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix CSI5* in Estoril, Portugal, and later in the week being named as one of the Investec Irish show jumping squad to represent Ireland at the Aga Khan.

With competitors well up to the challenge on the day, a total of 23 combinations from the 52 starters proceeded to the timed round. In what proved to be a very competitive jump-off, little separated the top three placings in the final lineup. Deane Rogan was hot on Broderick’s heels, but despite lodging a clear with Falco Van Spieveld, their time of 38.23 seconds proved only good enough for second place. Gerard Clarke aboard Rafiki was the only other rider to stay within the 40 marker in 38.25 for third.

Capt Kelly and Ringwood Glen secure Premier leg

On Thursday, 35 combinations lined out for the €10,000 Logan and McCalmont families-sponsored round of the TRM/Horseware Premier Series. Returning from his recent tour of international competition, Capt Michael Kelly was keen to record a win on home soil and he didn’t disappoint as he rode to victory aboard Ringwood Glen. This was Kelly’s second consecutive Premier Series victory at Balmoral, having taking both the National and Premier Grands Prix in 2014. Carrying four faults from the first round, Kelly made no mistake second time out and finished on four faults in 38.20 seconds, enough to secure him the win. By VDL Arkansas and out of Penny Royale, the 11-year-old gelding Ringwood Glen has been a consistent mount for Kelly on the international circuit up to CSI 4* level.

Butler on form

Alexander Butler added valuable points to his leader board tally when he took the runner-up spot with Hallowberry Cruz, finishing on four faults in 38.38. Placed second in Mullingar, Ger O’Neill also moved up the leader board when slotting into third place with Go For It, finishing on four faults in 44.04.