Harry Marshall claims the Grand Prix at Comporta

Irish Harry Marshall rode a double for Ireland on Sunday by winning both the Small Grand Prix and the main Grand Prix at the three-star event in Comporta, Portugal.

Marshall steered his wife Dawn's 14 year-old grey mare ‘Audi's Morningstar’ across the line just under a second ahead of French star Bruno Broucqsault in a ten-horse jump-off.

Afterwards, the Ulsterman said: ‘’I had a fifth with the horse in last week's Grand Prix and I said to my son Kris as I left the arena that I should have won it, but I was riding badly. Tonight I rode well, and that's why I'm taking home the trophy. I was last to go, which helped as well.

‘’It was a nice course to ride,’’he added. ‘’ Frank Rothenberger built the courses this weekend, and I have to say they were the best of the tour.’’

Earlier in the day Marshall also took the honours in Comporta's Small Grand Prix, which had been postponed from the previous day due to heavy winds. This time riding his own Irish-bred mare ‘Mandarin Smoke’, the 55 year-old rider beat Portugal's Maria Vozone Vilar by an almost identical margin to collect the winner's laurels.

Results (23/03/08)

Class Nº 18 – Grand Prix
AM5 – 1,50m

1º Harry Marshall (Irl) / Audi's Morningstar / 0 / 0 – 38,35
2º Bruno Broucqsault (Fra) / Walkabout Wonderland / 0 / 0 – 39,24
3º Michel Hecart (Fra) / Kenta Du Penquer / 0 / 0 – 39,28
4º Pedro Veniss (Bra) / Un Blanc De Blancs / 0 / 0 – 39,81
5º Olivier Desutter (Fra) / Aranka / 0 / 0 – 41,02
6º Frederic Busquet (Fra) / Kentin De Moyon / 0 / 0 – 43,21
7º Nadja Steiner (Sui) / Como II / 0 / 0 – 46,28
8º Gaetan Gaullier (Fra) / Hera De Sauge / 0 / 4 – 38,64
9º Simon Buckley (Gbr) / Worrior vh Dingeshof / 0 / 4 – 41,65
10º Rachel Walker (Gbr) / Tanon / 0 / 4 – 47,6