DUTCH champion Albert Zoer has now been beaten into second place on two successive evenings by Irish riders at the four-star show in De Steeg, the Netherlands.

Today (Sunday) it was Tipperary's Shane Breen who stole Zoer's thunder in front of his home crowd in the feature jump-off class. Riding the Olympic Lux stallion 'Camblin', 36 year-old Breen saw off the Dutchman's challenge with the Cantos gelding 'Wollie Bollie' when coming home with a comfortable two seconds in hand to pick up the 5750 euro first prize.

On Saturday evening it was Antrim's Jessica Kurten and the bay stallion 'VDL Harley' who defeated Zoer with his gelding 'Sam' to pick up a similar prize at the Gelderland arena.

Tomorrow (Monday) the stakes at De Steeg are raised considerably, however, when the Grand Prix takes place and the prize money shoots up to 30,000 euro for a first place.

Shane Breen