CSIO ROMA: Italy wins two out of three

Italian riders were in sensational form as they won two of the first three international competitions on the opening day of the 79th edition of CSIO5* Rome in the beautiful surroundings of Piazza di Siena. The home runners were particularly impressive in the Speed event won by speed ace Gianni Govoni, because the only visiting rider in the top seven finishers was runner-up Patrice Delaveau from France.

Govoni claimed the win with Orella when galloping home in a time of 51.69 seconds. Delaveau was almost two seconds slower with Baritchou DBT but only fractionally ahead of Massimo Grossato and Varios who slotted into third.

Emilio Bicocchi (Olea), Natale Chiaudani (Samsarah), Francesca Arioldi (Loro Piana Kelly de Fussigny) and Simone Coata (Whycoconah) filled the next four places in the 1.40m competition.

It was the 2004 Olympic Champion, Rodrigo Pessoa from Brazil, who won the Trofeo Impresa Roma, pipping America's Ashlee Bond. Pessoa set the target early in the second-round jump-off with a great round from Loro Piana Palouchim and his time of 40.71 seconds proved too good for the rest. The Italians were prominent yet again however, with Fabio Brotto and Master ERG Delle Roane in third ahead of Giulia Martinengo and Grupo Prom Alvaro Van Pachern in fourth, while Roberto Turchetto and Ultimo FS slotted into sixth place behind Ireland's Cian O'Connor and Splendor.

Martinengo then brought the day to a close with a storming victory in the Trofeo Mercedes Benz Roma. This 1.50m class attracted 55 starters and would not be easily won. Giovanni Bussu's first-round track produced 36 clears, so it was a real race against the clock second time out and there was sheer delight when the honours stayed at home.

Martinengo's 11 year old, Loro Piana Chiclana, broke the beam in 27.48 seconds to steal the limelight from Belgium's Rik Hemeryck and Quarco de Kerambars while British legend, Nick Skelton, finished third with Big Star. Skelton is as sharp and keen as ever having undergone hip-replacement surgery at the age of 54.

Ireland's O'Connor was in the line-up once more, this time sharing fourth place with Emanuele Gaudiano when the Irishman steered Temple Road home in precisely the same time as the Italian rider's gelding, Chicago. Sixth place here

went to America's Rich Fellers and McGuinness.