Equestrianism: Bertran de Balanda rolls back the years
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Your support makes all the difference.The Frenchman Gilles Bertran de Balanda, who will be remembered for his partnership with the wonderful stallion, Galoubet, two decades ago, produced a polished ride on Crocus Graverie to win yesterday's Kerrygold Classic on the opening day of the Dublin Horse Show.
Bertran De Balanda, who finished fourth in the 1981 World Cup Final in Birmingham, defeated his compatriot, Patrice Deleveau on Frascator Mail, by just 0.11sec.
Two Britons – Di Lampard on Abbervail Dream and William Funnell on Amber du Montois – finished third and fourth in this contest which served as a qualifier for Sunday's Kerrygold Grand Prix. Neither had been in a frantic hurry when they contested the jump-off between 17 horses, but they achieved two of only four double clears which will have delighted the Great Britain chef d'équipe, Derek Ricketts, in the run-up to tomorrow's Samsung Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy.
Tim Stockdale missed the jump-off with one error in the opening round on Fresh Direct Parcival, while the fourth British team member, Mark Armstrong on Elise, had a disappointing 16 faults – eight of them for exceeding the time allowed.
Ireland's Dermott Lennon cheered the home crowd by winning the opening Kerrygold Speed Stakes on Ginger Watt. His 10-year-old mount, who won the Speed Grand Prix at Hickstead last month, is still an unfamiliar mount to Lennon, however. "He has a big stride and a really good brain, but I won't know how big he can jump until he's had more experience," Lennon said.
William Funnell was fourth and best of the British on Machiavelli, with whom he won a class at the Royal Show in early July.
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