IRELAND'S Aoife Clarke took two top twenty places at the three-star event at Blenheim Palace in England, which finished this afternoon (Sunday).

Improving by seven places over her 2009 result, the Kildare-born 29 year-old rode the Irish-bred Master Imp gelding 'Master Crusoe' into sixth today, picking up just four show jumping faults to add to her first-day dressage score of 48.6.

Clarke also slotted 'Vaguely North' into 14th, delivering another flawless cross-country performance and adding five show jumping faults in today's final phase.

Though Clarke was indisputably the best of the Irish, Ciaran Glynn also featured in the top 30 with a 29th place on the Irish-bred Cruising mare 'Killossery Kruisita', while further down the field Sue Shortt and another Master Imp offspring, 'Imperative', completed in 37th and Jim Newsam with the Crossgar-bred mare 'Lara's Song' in 41st. Michael Ryan was the only other Irish finisher, bringing the Wexford-bred 'Ballylynch Skyport' into 52nd place.
 

Aoife Clarke