The Irish once again showed their brilliance under the sunny skies at the Vilamoura Equestrian Centre yesterday. In horseracing terms, they scored a “trifecta, a sweep of the top three positions. Moreover, not only that but four out of the top five placings in the €25,050 two-phase class.

The victory was as Irish as it gets, since Michael Pender (IRL) rode HHS Burnchurch, an eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Heritage Fortunus x Cavalier Royale). The duo advanced to and completed the second phase of the challenge with no penalties in 25.53 seconds.

Harry Marshall (IRL) and Chirokko M (Diamant de Semilly x Chin Chin) were the runners-up, matching the winners’ penalty-free performance all the way to the finish line, crossing the timers in 25.91 seconds.

Susan Fitzpatrick (IRL) and Fellow Castlefield (Je T’Aime Flamenco x Twister) completed the Irish feat, just nine-hundredths of a second slower than the latter two.