A Whitchurch-based rider has brought home one of the biggest prises in UK Equestrian after leading an Irish one-two in Sunday’s thrilling Equerry Bolesworth International Grand Prix.

Paul Kennedy, who has stables at Alkington, Whitchurch, captured the £30,000 top prize aboard 12-year-old Cartown Danger Mouse to deny his countryman Billy Twomey on Kimba Flamenco by just nine hundredths of a second while decorated British Olympian John Whitaker finished third on Cassinis Chaplin.

The event was held on the Bolesworth Estate, between Whitchurch and Chester, and Paul admitted the win ranks as one of the best of his career.

"I am absolutely delighted," he said.

"It is a really good feeling. It is certainly a day I will never forget. To be honest, I didn't feel the pressure so much. I was very calm.

"I have a really good team, and they had it all worked out what to do, and as I was coming into the arena I knew exactly what I had to.

"This win has to be right up there at the top in terms of my career."

Nina Barbour, the Equerry Bolesworth International Show director, was delighted with some of the stars on show during the week and believes the fans will have enjoyed their experience.

She said: "We’re thrilled with this year’s show. Our visitors saw some global superstars of equestrian sport in our international arena and our entertainment was the best yet.

"We are proud to bring world class sport to Cheshire and we’re now looking forward and planning our next event, the Liverpool International Horse Show at the Echo Arena in December.

"We have a terrific team at Bolesworth. Everyone works so hard to make our events the best they can be."

The world’s best equestrian athletes and a crowd of 30,000 people were in Cheshire last week for the 2018 Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show.

The show saw five days of show jumping and dressage as well as a host of entertainments, from fairground rides to motorcycle acrobatics.

The sporting highlight was six victories for the double Olympic gold medal winning dressage rider, Charlotte Dujardin and a spectacular dressage masterclass from her fellow Olympic gold medallist, Carl Hester.

Some of the top showjumpers in the world were in action, including Britain’s Laura Renwick and John Whitaker, Sofia Abramovich, the daughter of the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich and Eve Jobs, daughter of the Apple Computers founder, Steve Jobs.

Triple Olympic gold medallist eventer, Andrew Hoy and showjumper, Beth Vernon proved a dream team combination as they won a thrilling Bolesworth International Eventing Grand Prix, sponsored by Cazenove Capital.

One of the social highlights was Saturday’s Ladies’ Day – now a key event in the Cheshire summer calendar. The honour of being named the best dressed on the day went to Shiwon Green, a showjumper and business woman from Gloucestershire.