KILKENNY’S Marion Hughes claimed Ireland’s first big international victory of the weekend when she steered the Irish Sport Horse mare Heritage HHS Fortuna to a win at Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates this afternoon (Saturday).

The Portuguese-based rider went against the clock in a five star competition that attracted a starting list of 36, but pulled ahead of nearest challenger, France’s Mathieu Billot with Prem’Dollar Boy, finishing with a seventh of a second in hand to collect the 7,500 euro first prize.

Earlier at Al Ain, Ireland’s 22 year-old Michael Hutchinson placed third with Le Roi in the show’s first major two phase competition, which also saw Hughes finish in third with Crispien.

In Oliva in Spain, meanwhile, Wexford’s Bertram Allen took two top three places on Friday, piloting Wild Thing L to runner-up spot in the speed class and taking third with Molly Malone V in the two-phase competition later in the day.