AFTER four days of intense competition, Ireland finished with three riders in the top 20 at Badminton's HSBC Classic in England this afternoon (Monday).

With only 50 combinations making it through to the final show jumping phase today from an international startlist of 83, it was 24 year-old Sam Watson from Carlow who proved best of the Irish when finishing in 13th place on the Irish-bred 'Horseware Bushman'.

Close behind in 14th came another Irish-bred horse, 'Portersize Just a Jiff', ridden by 20 year-old Badminton first-timer Camilla Speirs from Kildare.

Thirty-six year-old Wicklow rider Mark Kyle took 20th place with 'Step In Time'.

Other Irish finishers were Elizabeth Power and Kilpatrick River (31st), Austin O'Connor and 'Pocket Rocket' (42nd) and Michael Ryan with 'Old Road' (43rd).

The Badminton Three Day Event was won by Australia's Paul Tapner on 'Inonothing', while the best-placed Irish-bred horse was 'Spring Along', who finished in third place overall, piloted by Britain's Daisy Berkeley.

Eleven nations are represented at Badminton, which is one of only five HSBC Classics to be held in the world this year.

FINAL SCORES
Michael Ryan; Old Road (ISH) After XC 103.5 + 4.0 SJ TOTAL 107.5

Liz Power; Kilpatrick River
 After XC 77.4 + 4.0 SJ TOTAL 81.4
Austin O’ Connor; Pocket Rocket
 After XC 76.5 + 26.0 SJ TOTAL 102.5
Mark Kyle; Step in Time After XC 69.6 + 0.0 SJ TOTAL 69.2
Camilla Speirs; Portersize Just A Jiff (ISH) After XC 57.5 + 4.0 SJ TOTAL 61.5
Sam Watson; Horseware Bushman (ISH)
 After XC 52.5 + 8.0 SJ TOTAL 60.5
WITHDRAWN: Capt. Geoff Curran; Balladeer Alfred (ISH); Sacha Pemble; I've Been Dun; Patricia Ryan; Fernhill Clover Mist (ISH)

Sam Watson and Horseware Bushman