The Northern Ireland International Horse Show is one which was brilliantly run by a dedicated committee who gave the sellout crowds everything as promised - fabulous showjumping from both National and International classes and great entertainment.

Many nations were represented this week in Belfast and it was great to see two Aussie's lining up for the starters orders, alongside Egypt, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Switzerland, USA and of course host country Ireland were well represented.

The opening international class for the show was a Speed Class which gave the riders a chance to have their first proper look at the arena and fences to be used.

Nick Skelton (GBR) and the handsome grey stallion Russel blitzed the course to win in a time of 42.27secs from Jurgen Stenfert for the Netherlands who, riding BMC's Naomie for a time of 44.94secs. Third place went to Francoise Mathy for Belgium riding Theodor to a time of 45.29secs.

Of the top 15 placings, Britain claimed 8 places and this augered well for a good show for the visiting Brits! The prize fund for this opening class was £2,400 with Skelton taking home £800 for his dance around the Brian Henry track.

Class 3 was an interesting class - riders were divided into 5 groups according to their FEI rankings - the winner of each group then went through to the final jump off along with the 3 best overall also going through to the jump off.

First out, Jochen Munsterhuis for the Netherlands, set the pace when he jumped clear putting the pressure on the following riders.

The class winner got a huge roar from the home crowd who were well pleased to see their own Billy Twomey win the class riding Sue Davis's gorgeous grey stallion Pikap - pictured below - when the clock stopped at 30.75secs taking the win from Britain's Ben Maher and the mare Rolette who stopped the clock at 31.68secs.

The Netherlands Munsterhuis finished in third place with M'Huis Sportscars Peanuts and again Ireland's Shane Breen got a roar of approval when he lined up in 4th place riding World Cruise.

Britain claimed 5th and 6th for Geoff Billington and William Funnell respectively.

The Aussie's featured in the top 15 places with James Paterson-Robinson in 9th place and Matt Williams claimed 14th spot in the class.

Matt Williams has been based in the northern hemisphere for some years now and is making a name for himself as a rider who has talent, determination and a great attitude to the sport! Pictured above right, Matt has been a start struck youngster himself and no doubt this was in his mind as he gave his winning rosette to a lucky kid in the audience!

Tim Stockdale took 3rd place in the Top Score class, where riders pick their own course and try to chose the highest pointed fences to increase their points - fences can be jumped twice, but once fallen it is not replaced. Tim finished with 700 points on Piccolando.

Switzerland's Hanseuli Sprunger and Ilton Daye stood in 4th place with 670 points and 5th went to Shane Breen for Ireland riding Carmel Ryan's Carmena Z for 580 points.

Ireland's Conor Swail and the rising star Rivaal took 6th spot with 570 points and Britain's Ben Maher slotted into 7th place with Alcosie du Wonderland clocking up 520 points. The last two placings went to John Whitaker and Utah van Erpekron on 500 points and Francois Mathy for Belgium riding Ivoir due Rouet on 330 points. Mark Armstrong and Jurgen Stenfert retired.

The WKD Speed Grand Prix on Saturday evening belonged to the Irish much the delight of the huge crowd in for the evenings entertainment with 21 starters all looking for a share of the £4,500 prize fund.

Cian O'Connor - pictured below left and right - took the class when he blitzed around the course in 45.86secs riding the mare Freulien Senila, taking the lead from second placed Irishman Conor Swail and the very handsome grey with the blue eye, Conduct who stopped the clock at 47.28secs.

But the Irish didn't have it easy with Michael Whitaker breathing down their necks - but finished 3rd with Lady des Hayettes stopping the clock at 47.86secs, while nephew Robert Whitaker and Karina slotted into 4th place in 48.68secs.

Ireland claimed 5th place with Daydream St Ghyvan Z who stopped the clock at 48.80secs.

The Puissance, as always, was one of the most popular classes and even though there were fewer entries those 12 in it were all making a strong bid for the £10,500 on offer.

The wall started at 1.80m and finished at 2.11m seeing Shane Breen for Ireland taking first place and the lion's share of the money. Pictured below left - Shane Breen and Lyssegan Clover Diamond

Seocnd place was shared by Australia's Matt Williams (Contact) and Ireland's Cian O'Connor (Casper) who is well known around the world as a Puissance specialist.

Pictured below - Matt Williams and Contact - the lineup saw the first three horses all greys!

4th place - Hanseuli Sprunger (SUI) and Kepi de Valse
=5th place - Geoff Billington (GBR) and Lanzelot
=5th place - Robert Whitaker (GBR) Finbar
7th place - Jurgen Stenfert (NED) and BMC Vayom
8th place - Jan Vlemmix (BEL) and Ionesco du Moulin
9th place - Marion Hughes (IRE) and Good Luck Girl
=10th place - John Whitaker (GBR) and Lactic Two
=10th place - Francois Mathy (BEL) and Undercover Agent
=10th place - Mark Armstrong (GBR) and Kenelle De La Baie

Sunday's matinee international class saw 24 starters looking for a share of the £5,400 prize fund but only 5 went through to the jump off when Course Designer Brian Henry upped the ante and built a very strong tracl for this Table A class.

The win in this class went to Britain's Tim Stockdale and Lou Lou when they jumped clear in 29.76secs to take a blistering win from Ireland's Billy Twomey and Pikap who jumped clear in 30.97secs.

The penultimate international class was another Speed Class and 28 starters lined up for the £3,000 prize fund.

The Brits took out the three top places with Michael Whitaker and Lady Des Hayettes claiming the winners rosette in 48.03secs. Ben Maher and Akosie du Wonderland stopped the clock at 48.98secs. Will Funnell and Cortaflex Amber du Montois clocked in at 49.74secs for third place.

The final class for the international riders was the £30,000 Grand Prix, where the winner would take home £10,000 for their effort. Thirty-three riders lined up for starters orders over the Brian Henry international Grand Prix class where 25% of the field would be invited into the jump off.

Today's class saw 5 clear rounds and four 4 faulters were invited back to join the jump off.

The class was won by Laura Kraut - pictured below left and right - for the USA riding the crowd pleasing Anthem and they jumped double clear for 31.13secs to secure the win.

Britain's Michael Whitaker and Wonamia van den Aard took 2nd place also with double clear rounds and a time of 33.86secs. Third place went to Switzerland's Hanseuli Sprunger and Ilton Daye who were another double clear clocked up with a jump off time of 37.20secs - and these three were the only double clears for the competition.

John Whitaker finished with four faults in the fastest time of 32.12secs taking 4th place for Britain. Ireland's Cmdt Gerry Flynn took 5th place riding the dimunitive grey Mo Chroi for 4 faults in 33.30secs.

World Cruise and Shane Breen came into the jump off from a clear round but the wheels fell off a little bit when two fences fell leaving them in 6th place with 8 faults in 34.95sec. Again for Ireland, 7th place went to Capt. Shane Carey and River Foyle with 8th place going to Gerald Geesink and Casco for the Netherlands.