Marion Hughes, a member of the winning Irish Nations Cup team in Athens three weeks ago, prevented a British double victory on the opening day of international action at the Kerrygold World Cup show in Millstreet yesterday when she and her veteran performer Flo Jo triumphed in the Horseware Power and Speed.

Hughes, whose 14-year-old Clover Hill mare is no stranger to the Millstreet limelight, was the only one of the 22 runners who progressed to the speed section of the course to break the 30-second barrier.

Her clear round in 29.16 snatched victory from Tim Stockdale and kept the British rider in the runner-up slot with Traxdata Glenwood Spring, the Nimmerdor gelding which joined his stable two months ago. Stockdale, clear in 30.28, was followed home by Frenchman Edouard Couperie, who was a further second off the winner's pace.

Earlier Nick Skelton and Robert Smith, whose horses' arrival at the showgrounds was delayed due to shipping disruptions, made it to Millstreet just in time to dominate the opening speed class. Skelton, a team bronze medallist for Britain at the world championships in Rome earlier this month, prevailed with Virtual Village Showtime, whose time of 43.81 gave him a winning margin of almost two seconds over Smith and Senator For The Best.