It was an outstanding week for Richard Howley at the Mediterranean Tour show in Oliva, Spain after claiming three two-star winning ribbons on consecutive days.
Howley’s treble success in Spain began on Thursday, taking top spot on the podium courtesy of Pandito Van’T Merelsnest Z and he followed up on Friday with a well-judged ride on the 15-year-old gelding Mansini Ltd.
He then maintained his dominance as Mansini Ltd led home an Irish 1-2 in another 1.45m class.
In all there were four Irish riders in the top six, as Alexander Butler and Jurry Bleu K chased home Howley in second, with Clem McMahon and Grand Prix DK in fourth and Trevor Breen and Highland President in sixth.
Of the 37 that registered for action, 15 jumped clear but what was so impressive about Howley’s clear and winning time of 36.68 in the jump-off was that it was posted while acting as pathfinder for his 14 rivals - having gone first.
One by one the opposition sought to overtake him but try as they might, they couldn’t - as Howley claimed a third win in two days of competition.
