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Brilliant Belgians top first round at Furusiyya 2015 Final

News Desk — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 07:42:32 +0000

Judy-Ann Melchior and As Cold as Ice Z helped Belgium take top spot in today’s first round of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final 2015 at Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP). (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

The Belgian team came out on top in the super-tough first round of the €2.3 million Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final 2015 at Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP) today. With only eight places up for grabs for Saturday’s second and deciding round, there was a ferocious battle between the 19 competing nations, and some heroic performances from sides that didn’t make the cut.

Written by Louise Parkes

Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, USA, the defending champions from The Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland claimed the remaining qualifying spots in that order, and the stage is now set for a spectacular finale on Saturday night.

The testing course set by Spain’s Santiago Varela produced only seven clear rounds from a starting field of 76 horse-and-rider combinations, and the penultimate triple combination claimed a huge number of victims. A total of 33 horses faulted here, and at least 24 of those left the middle element on the floor. All four members of the French team picked up penalties at this one, and the country that won the first Furusiyya Final back in 2013 finished well down the line in 16th place on their final tally of 24 faults.

The countries that just missed out were Qatar, Mexico and Brazil who shared ninth place on a 16-fault scoreline at the end of the day, and it was interesting to note that three of the rare clear rounds were posted by riders from countries that finished outside the qualification zone. Pedro Veniss got Brazil off to a perfect start when fault-free with Quabri de L’Isle, while both Australian pathfinder Jamie Kermond (Quite Cassini) and Egypt’s anchorman Karim Elzoghby (Amelia) did likewise – the latter two countries sharing 12th place at the end of the day.

Fair but unforgiving

Varela’s course was fair but unforgiving, riders having to plan every step of the way in order to leave all the timber intact and to avoid exceeding the 81 seconds time-allowed. The pressure really began on the roll-back to the planks at fence five which was followed by a big double, and then a right-bending line to the open water. As the Spanish course designer explained afterwards however, the majority of mistakes later on the track were created by loss of control after the open water which was followed by a big oxer and then a turn back to a two-metre-wide triple bar.

“It was six (strides) to the vertical after the triple bar and oxer, but the majority of the riders went on seven and some upset the balance of their horses” he explained this evening. Many paid the price at the blue oxer at fence 11, the front pole kicked out time and again before riders turned down the final line.

Every element of the triple combination at 12 saw plenty of action. “It was at the end of the course, and the jump in was a bit short”, Varela said. The red poles at the vertical second element were further complicated by a water tray below them which distracted some of the horses. The course wasn’t only difficult to ride, Varela said it was also difficult to build. “We only had the warm-up competition and then a 1.60m class – I think it was a fair course with faults everywhere from the start to the end. The question today was not to win, it was to be in the eight teams that qualify for Saturday” he pointed out.

Impossible to predict

It was impossible to predict how the competition would play itself out until the very end as each rider had only one chance to get things right, but the British looked secure having posted a nine-fault scoreline by the end of the third-rider rotation, while Christian Ahlmann’s opening clear with Taloubet Z helped seal Germany’s eight-fault total. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson did the same for Sweden when third to go for his side, but the Dutch had a bit of a moment when one of their dream-team combinations – Maikel van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi – collected 17 uncharacteristic faults. However with a foot-perfect run from the superstar partnership of Jeroen Dubbeldam and Zenith they finished with 10 on the board after five-fault efforts from both Jur Vrieling (VDL Zirocco Blue) and Gerco Schroder (Glock’s Cognac Champblanc), and the defending Furusiyya champions still look well set to continue on the glory trail they have been following over the last year.

The final placings were undecided to the very end however, the Americans heaving a huge sigh of relief that at last, after missing the cut at the previous two Furusiyya Finals, they are through on a nine-fault finishing score while the Irish and Swiss claimed the last two places when posting scores of 13 and 15 faults respectively.

Clear winners

The clear winners today however were the Belgians who confidently cruised home with a final tally of five faults thanks to a fantastic last-to-go clear from newly-crowned European silver medallist, Gregory Wathelet.

Their pathfinder, Olivier Philippaerts (H&M Armstrong van de Kapel) made a mistake at the planks at fence five, but, next to go, Judy-Ann Melchior, collected only a single time penalty with the ever-reliable Cold as Ice Z. Jos Lansink fell victim to the middle part of the combination with For Cento, but Wathelet’s clear sealed it in style.

Wathelet said afterwards “for sure I am really happy about my clear round, but today my team was really good and they made it easy for me! There was not so much pressure when I was going in so I could ride a nice, quiet round. I’m happy for my team, and I hope we can keep it this way for Saturday. We will try to do the same on Saturday but it is a whole new day. Our goal was to be in the top eight this evening, and the main thing is we succeeded in that” he said stoically.

Result:

1. Belgium 5 faults: H&M Armstrong van de Kapel (Olivier Philippaerts) 4, As Cold as Ice Z (Judy-Ann Melchior) 1, For Cento (Jos Lansink) 5, Conrad de Hus (Gregory Wathelet) 0.

2. Germany 8 faults: Taloubet Z (Christian Ahlmann) 0, Fibonacci (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) 5, Cornet d’Amour (Daniel Deusser) 4, Chiara (Ludger Beerbaum) 4.

2. Sweden 8 faults: H&M Tornesch (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) 4, Tinkabell (Angelie von Essen) 21, Unita Ask (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) 9, Cantinero (Henrik von Eckermann) 4.

4. Great Britain 9 faults: Diva ll (Ben Maher) 1, Spirit T (Jessica Mendoza) 4, Utamaro D’Ecaussines (Joe Clee) 4, Cassionato (Michael Whitaker) 13.

4. USA 9 faults: Nouvelle (Laura Kraut) 1, Barron (Lucy Davis) 12, Ohlala (Lauren Hough) 4, Cortes C (Beezie Madden) 4.

6. Netherlands 10 faults: SFN Zenith NOP (Jeroen Dubbeldam0 0, VDL Groep Verdi (Maikel van der Vleuten) 17, VDL Zirocco Blue (Jur Vrieling) 5, Glock’s Cognac Champblanc (Gerco Schroder) 5.

7. Ireland 13 faults: Molly Malone (Bertram Allen) 5, MHS Going Global (Greg Broderick) 5, Good Luck (Cian O’Connor) 4, All Star (Denis Lynch) 4.

8. Switzerland 15 faults: Quorida de Treho (Romain Duguet) 1, Clooney (Martin Fuchs) 9, Bonne Chance CW (Janika Sprunger) 16, Castlefield Eclipse (Paul Estermann) 5.

Fellers and Flexible win Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League

News Desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 06:47:43 +0000

Longtime partners, and perennial crowd favorites, Rich Fellers (USA) and Flexible claimed victory at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, British Columbia, yesterday. (FEI/Rebecca Berry)

Longtime partners, and perennial crowd favorites, Rich Fellers (USA) and Flexible yesterday topped a field of 25 to claim the victory of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League class at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, British Columbia.

By Esther Hahn

Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted a record-breaking number of spectators to the beautiful, green show grounds, where the sport’s top athletes attempted to clear the first round of 13 obstacles with 16 jumping attempts. A variety of rails dropped throughout the 1.60-meter track, indicating a well designed course. And multiple riders accrued faults at the triple combination that followed the sliced turns from the jump-eight oxer.

The questions asked by course designer Alan Wade (IRL) proved difficult for the inexperienced and the experienced pairs alike. Just a few months after appearing at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Las Vegas, Vinton Karrasch (USA) and Coral Reef Follow Me II were eliminated after two refusals. Two additional horse-and-rider teams did not finish the round.

Sixteen pairs unsuccessfully attempted clears before the first clear round came from America’s Will Simpson and The Dude. Following a record-breaking HITS Thermal winter circuit earlier in the year, the 2008 Olympian efficiently maneuvered the sprawling course without a single fault.

“When you’re riding The Dude, anything can happen,” Simpson said about the nine-year-old gelding.

A few rounds later, 2012 Olympian Fellers and his 19-year-old chestnut stallion added a second clear round to make for a jump off. Canada’s Ben Asselin, aboard Plume de la Roque, was the third and final clear as the 24th in the order of go.

Winning experience

“We’re probably the most experienced pair in the world, if you add our two ages together,” Fellers, 55, commented, as he and Flexible exited the arena after their first round. “He’s just a dream. He keeps getting smarter and better.”

Fellers drew on this experience in the jump off, shaving just over a second off of Simpson’s clear round. Asselin attempted to improve on Fellers’ score, but a pulled rail in the seven-obstacle course forced him to settle for third place.

“I have so much experience with that horse that there’s not too many things that I see anymore that we haven’t seen before,” Fellers explained. “I really thought it was a difficult course when I walked it, but I rode just like I walked it, and he rode just like I wanted him to ride.”

But Fellers knew he would have to push hard to beat Simpson. He and Flexible entered the ring for the jump off after only jumping one, small vertical as a warm up. The first round had taken a lot out of the horse, and Fellers wanted to allow for Flexible’s breathing to return to normal before asking for another big effort.

“I watched Will (ride the jump off), and I’ve seen him ride for years,” Fellers said. “I think he’s a phenomenal and fast jump off rider, perhaps the fastest in the world. I watched him win and win at Thermal this year. He laid down a brilliant round, and the horse jumped super all the way around and was quite fast. I knew I couldn’t take it easy.”

So in his plan of attack, he shaved tighter turns, almost hitting his knee on a ditch jump in the ring. He also opted to take out a stride in his approach to the double combination.

“It went great,” he said. “It was one of those rounds that everything came up sweet, so there wasn’t a lot of stress on Flexible, which is one of my goals at this state in his career. He’s never been better. I know that doesn’t make any sense with his age – that he could be as good as he ever was – but he feels as good as ever.”

Simple planning

Regardless of winning the first West Coast event for the North American League, Fellers’ goals for Flexible aren’t set on the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Gothenburg (SWE), just yet.

“He’s never sharp coming out of the winter, and I think it might have something to do with his testosterone and that he’s a stallion,” Fellers explained. “I know the Finals are in March so that makes it a little more unlikely (in terms of timing).”

Flexible is scheduled to remain at Thunderbird for another week to compete in an upcoming three-star class on Sunday. Then he’ll return home to Oregon for a couple of weeks to rest before traveling to the Spruce Meadows Masters and to the next North American League event on the West Coast at the Sacramento International Horse Show.

“At this stage, he’s feeling great, super sound and loving the sport and craving competitions,” Fellers explained. “As long as that’s the same, I’ll keep carefully picking and choosing where he competes. I’m into ‘simple.’ That’s how I evaluate everything (for Flexible).”

Results

1. Flexible (Richard Fellers), USA, 0 faults/40.51 seconds (JO);

2. The Dude (Will Simpson), USA, 0 faults/41.71 (JO);

3. Plume de la Roque (Ben Asselin), CAN, 4 faults/43.01 (JO);

4. Agrostar (Ashlee Bond), USA, 4 faults/79.90;

5. S F Ariantha (Andres Rodriguez), VEN, 4 faults/82.56;

6. Tembla (Karl Cook), USA, 4 faults/83.29;

7. New York (Jack Towell), USA, 4 faults/84.11;

8. Calero (Allyssa Hecht), USA, 4 faults/84.76.

Allen fourth in Dutch five-star jump-off, Hanley wins at Millstreet

News Desk — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 06:50:26 +0000

Allen fourth in Dutch five-star jump-off, Hanley wins at Millstreet

WEXFORD’S Bertram Allen was 6,000 euro richer after a fourth place in the mean feature class at Valkenswaard’s five-star show on Friday, while Mayo’s Cameron Hanley took just under 8,500 euro for a win at Millstreet in Co. Cork.

Riding the nine year-old Belmonde, Allen was one of 12 to make the cut for the jump-off at the Netherlands show, and took an early lead with Ballywalter Farms’s gelding, but eventually was outpaced by three riders following, with the 20,000 euro first prize going to the world’s number one-ranked rider, Britain’s Scott Brash, who piloted Hello Forever.

Allen will be hoping for a bigger slice of the prize money in Saturday’s Global Champions’ Tour Grand Prix at Valkenswaard, where fellow-countryman Denis Lynch will be aiming to join him on the start list.

At Millstreet’s three-star show, meanwhile, Cameron Hanley took the honours in this evening’s main jump-off competition aboard his own gelding Antello Z, stopping the jump-off clock one-and-a-half seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, Derry’s Daniel Coyle and John D. Carr’s chestnut gelding Zuidam, who collected 5,000 euro for their runner-up place.

Paul Kennedy and Cartown Danger Mouse took fourth place for Ireland in a 47-strong international field.

Splaine names squad for European Championships at Aachen

News Desk — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 19:17:38 +0000

ROBERT Splaine, Ireland’s show jumping team manager, has tonight (Monday) announced his squad for the European Show Jumping Championships due to take place at Aachen in Germany from August 19-23rd.

The Irish European squad will be:

Bertram Allen/Molly Malone V
Greg Broderick/MHS Going Global (ISH)
Darragh Kenny/Sans Soucis Z
Denis Lynch/All Star 5
Cian O’Connor/Good Luck

The European squad includes four of the riders and three of the horses that helped Ireland win the Aga Khan Trophy at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show last week.

Twomey and Swail give Ireland two more victories at the Dublin Horse Show

News Desk — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 10:09:20 +0000

CORK’S Billy Twomey kicked off another good day (Saturday) for Ireland at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse show with a lunchtime win in the Accumulator class aboard Joe Flynn’s Irish Sport Horse stallion Ardcolum Duke, shading Dutch runner-up Johnny Pals and Urjul van Generhese by just under two seconds on time for the 4,600 euro first prize.

Tipperary’s Trevor Breen also made the top five with a fourth place on Sceilig Sport Horses’s stallion Georgie D’Auvray Ec.

Conor Swail broke through with a win today on Susan Grange’s talented young gelding Simba de la Roque. The Co. Down rider was competing in the The JLT Dublin Stakes jump-off class, and was one of 11 to go clear in the first round.

Swail was fourth to jump in the final round, and set a very fast time of 39.01 seconds, with his nearest challenger, France’s former European Champion Roger-Yves Bost and the mare Sangria du Coty falling short by just under half a second, allowing the Irish rider to pocket the 8,000 euro winner’s prize.

The Land Rover Puissance attracted the usual enthusiastic crowds to the main arena, but Irish riders were unable to deliver a third win to the day’s action, with Egypt’s Sameh El Dahan taking the 12,400 euro prize purse on the fourth jump-off, though riding an Irish Sport Horse, Britt Megahey’s gelding Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier.

Billy Twomey was best of the Irish Puissance riders, finishing third on the third jump-off with Charlotte Flack’s mare Ratina Kan. Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez took the runner-up prize of 8,500 euro with Caballito, conceding victory to El Dahan when clipping the big red wall on the fourth jump-off.

Wins for Foley and O’Connor in USA and Netherlands

News Desk — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 06:49:09 +0000

YOUNG Rider Tom Foley scored an impressive win at the three-star show in Tryon, USA last Wednesday, while Olympic medallist Cian O’Connor was victorious the following day at Arnhem’s three-star in the Netherlands.

Written by Colin McClelland

Nineteen year-old Foley, riding Spy Coast Farm’s mare Beluga, was the only one of 39 starters to break the 60 second barrier on the clock, coming home in 59.56.

Clare native Foley, who was one of Ireland’s European silver medal pony team in 2010, said after what his first win at the North Carolina venue: “When we walked the course I thought it looked very good. It was a nice course. I knew it was going to be a fast and hard test. There were a lot of people going in front of me in the class that were going to go fast. I have a great horse. I have to thank Shane Sweetnam for giving me the ride and to Lisa Lourie, the owner of Spy Coast Farm, for supporting me. It’s been great to have these kinds of opportunities and I’m so grateful.”

Meanwhile other Irish riders on the far side of the Atlantic also had success last night when Co. Down’s Conor Swail took second place at Spruce Meadows in Canada on Ilan Ferder’s Viva Colombia in the five-star speed competition, with Shane Sweetnam on Sweet Oak Farm’s Easy Contact Humlan claiming third. Chile’s Samuel Parot took first on Couscous van Orti.

Nearer home today, Cian O’Connor and Adena Springs’s mare Quidam’s Cherie were fastest in a huge field of over 90 starters at the three-star Netherlands show in Arnhem, while Capt. Michael Kelly and the Irish Sport Horse Ringwood Glen took sixth place.

Mayo’s Cameron Hanley also featured in what was the main class of the day, with a ninth on Ashford Farm’s Ikketiska van de Noordheuvel.

Sweetnam takes second in Spruce Meadows Grand Prix

News Desk — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 06:08:23 +0000

CORK’S Shane Sweetnam came very close to delivering a fourth major win for Ireland this weekend when he placed second in the four-star Grand Prix in Spruce Meadows, Canada on Sunday.

The 34 year-old, piloting Spy Coast Farm’s stallion Chaqui Z, registered one of just five double clears in the contest, but was just over a second shy of catching Egypt’s Sameh el Dahan and the Irish Sport Horse Sumas Zorro, which is jointly owned by the rider and Ireland’s Joanne Sloan-Allen.

The Egyptian rider collected 28,000 euro for his win, while Sweetnam picked up 17,000 euro.

Sweetnam had already claimed three third places on consecutive days at the Canadian venue.

Earlier today Tipperary’s Trevor Breen won the famous Hickstead Derby for the second year in a row, this time riding Patricia Brown’s Irish Sport Horse Loughnatousa WB, while in the Netherlands, 19 year-old Wexford rider Bertram Allen won the Geesteren Grand Prix with Ballywalter Farms’s mare Molly Malone V. On Friday night, Clare’s David Blake was victorious in the Tryon Grand Prix in North Carolina, USA, with Pine Hollow Farm’s Binkie.

Broderick Claims Third in Swiss Speed Class

News Desk — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 06:08:48 +0000

TIPPERARY’S Greg Broderick picked up some more prize money at the five star show in St. Gallen on Saturday when finishing third in the Longines speed class on the Irish Sport Horse Mhs Automatic.
Written by Colin McClelland
Having won the first class of the show, and picked up a second place in yesterday’s speed competition on the same horse, the 29 year-old also distinguished himself with a double clear round in Friday’s Nations’ Cup with Mhs Going Global.

Today Broderick was just under two seconds off the pace of Belgian winner Gregory Wathelet and Egano van Het Slogenhof, but collected 10,000 euro for his third place nevertheless. The runner-up spot went to home rider Romain Duguet and Otello du Soleil.

Irish riders also took three other top places in the speed class – Cian O’Connor and Quidam’s Cherie finished in sixth, Darry Kenny took eighth with Chin Quidam Vdl, while Bertram Allen placed tenth with Wild Thing L.

In the US, meanwhile, Cork’s Shane Sweetnam took the laurels when finishing first in the four-star Tryon speed class in North Carolina with Cyklon. In Canada, Co. Down’s Conor Swail had another third place this weekend at five-star Spruce Meadows, riding Grafton in the 1m50 Winning Round competition last night, but losing out to the USA’s McLain Ward and HH Azur, whose double clear was one of just two registered in the competition.

Moloney Wins USA Grand Prix Kenny Third in Switzerland

News Desk — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 05:21:56 +0000

IRELAND has had two Grand Prix successes in the last 24 hours, with Richie Moloney victorious at the new four-star show in Tryon, North Carolina, and Darragh Kenny claiming third place on Sunday afternoon at Switzerland’s five-star competition at St. Gallen.

Written by Colin McClelland

Kilkenny-born Moloney, riding Equinimity LLC’s stallion Carrabis Z, was last man to enter the arena in the seven horse jump-off last night, and managed to shave just under a second off the leading time set by the USA’s Ali Wolff and the gelding Casall.

Moloney, who collected 40,000 euro for his win said afterwards of Carrabis Z: “He’s a really sensitive horse and sometimes the shorter distances can be difficult for him. This is the fastest he’s ever gone for me. The course suited him and the long gallop to the last fence really made it an exciting finish. He tries really hard and if he rubs a rail, he will not be anywhere close to the next fence.”

Moloney and his team will stay in North Carolina for the upcoming Tryon Summer Series that begins on June 24. With several top horses, Moloney will look to capitalize on the several weeks of FEI sanctioned competition at the venue in the coming summer months.

Meanwhile at the five-star Grand Prix in St. Gallen, Switzerland, Offaly’s Darragh Kenny picked up 30,000 euro for his third place in the Longines Grand Prix this afternoon. Riding Caroline Lloyd’s chestnut gelding Sans Soucis Z, Kenny was one of 13 combinations to make it to the jump-off from a field of 50 starters, but finished two seconds off the pace of new Swiss star Romain Duguet aboard the mare Quorida de Treho. World number four rider, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, was second with the talented Nino Des Buissonnets.

Greg Broderick, whose double clear round with the Irish Sport Horse Mhs Going Global helped Ireland finish third in the Swiss Nations’ Cup on Friday, missed out on qualification for the Grand Prix jump-off with a time fault that left him just 0.6 of a second shy of making the cut.

Splaine Reveals Team for St. Gallons Nations’ Cup

News Desk — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 08:37:30 +0000

IRELAND’S team for Friday’s top-level Furusiyya Nations’ Cup in St. Gallen, Switzerland was announced by Ireland’s show jumping team manager Robert Splaine on Thursday evening.

Drawn to jump in the advantageous eighth position of eight teams competing, Ireland’s foursome will line out as follows:

Shane Breen with Golden Hawk
Greg Broderick with MHS Going Global (ISH)
Cian O’Connor with Good Luck
Bertram Allen with Romanov

St. Gallen is the third of four point-scoring Nations’ Cups allocated to Ireland for the 2015 season, with the last such competition taking place at the Dublin Horse Show in August. Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland will also be chasing league points at St. Gallen.

The Swiss Nations’ Cup will begin at 2pm Irish time, and is available on livestream fromwww.feitv.org

Red Mills Brand Ambassador Scott Brash Wins 2nd Stage of Rolex Grand Slam

News Desk — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 07:55:36 +0000

Connolly’s RED MILLS Brand Ambassador Scott Brash Photo Brian Hennessy

History was made on Sunday at the World Equestrian Festival Aachen in Germany when Connolly’s RED MILLS Brand Ambassador Scott Brash, riding Hello Sanctos, won the first equestrian Major of the year, the Rolex Grand Prix, and his second stage of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Scott Brash is the first rider to achieve this remarkable feat since the introduction of the sport’s ultimate challenge in 2013, and goes to the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ in September hoping to be the only rider in history to win all three Majors in succession.

Germany’s Daniel Deusser riding Cornet d’Amour finished second, with France’s Simon Delestre on Ryan des Hayettes in third.

Connolly’s RED MILLS Brand Ambassador Scott Brash, riding Hello Sanctos to victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen Photo Brian Hennessy

The World Equestrian Festival at Aachen, reduced in length to accommodate the European Championships later in the year, is considered by both the riders and fans as one of the finest equestrian competitions in the world and a 45,000 capacity crowd flooded in to watch the Rolex Grand Prix, the highlight of the three days.

The Rolex Grand Prix is notoriously challenging, and the riders who make the annual pilgrimage expect to be asked the toughest questions by course designer Frank Rothenberger. Initially it appeared as if clear rounds would be hard to come by, with many of the big names in the competition collecting penalties but by the time all 40 riders had tackled the 13 obstacle course in the first round, Scott Brash, winner of the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva in December, lead by less than half a second.

Ten riders were faultless going into Round 2, including Rolex Testimonees Kevin Staut and Kent Farrington, this was then reduced down to seven who went into the final jump off – little did the 45,000 spectators realise what was about to play out in front of them.

The first three riders all had a pole down, and then Germany’s Daniel Deusser set the benchmark with a clear round in what looked like an incredible time of 48.37 seconds.

The legendary Ludger Beerbaum, an Aachen favourite, followed and he too produced a clear round, but he could not match the time set by Deusser. France’s Simon Delestre was next to go clear, but was also not quick enough – the home crowd was beginning to think that the Rolex Grand Prix title could be staying in Germany.

Last into the arena was World No.1 Scott Brash, his round started off slow, but his wonder horse Hello Sanctos made up time over the second half of the course, crossing the line in a nail biting 48.04 seconds to win the Rolex Grand Prix to a standing ovation and rapturous applause from the crowd.

Talking about his victory, Scott Brash said, “I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet, it has been my dream to win Aachen, so to win is a dream come true, I am ecstatic.

“What makes Aachen so special is the crowd, to jump in front of 45,000 people that are also very knowledgeable, is great for us riders and brings out the best in us.”

Having started his Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping winning ‘cycle’ in Geneva, Scott Brash now travels to the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, 9 – 13 September 2015, to compete for the sport’s ultimate challenge and the €1m bonus. “To win one leg is already hard enough, to win two is extremely difficult, to win three is going to be really hard, but it would be silly not to try so I will definitely try and win it” he said.

Condon Leads Irish Whitewash at Lisbon, Lynch and Allen Successful in Aachen

News Desk — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 06:21:09 +0000

CORK’S Anthony Condon and the nine year-old bay stallion Aristio led an Irish whitewash of the big feature class at the three-star show in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday night.

Condon won the jump-off competition and the 3,000 euro first prize, but four other Irish riders also featured in the top ten of the 54-strong field.

Close behind Condon in second place was Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes with the bay gelding Can Ya Makan, while Trevor Breen and Classic took fifth, all three on double clear rounds.

In seventh was Michael G. Duffy aboard Bocello, while Vincent Byrne and Hannibal v. Overis Z claimed ninth place.

Irish riders also did well in the following Six-Bar competition at Lisbon, with Michael G. Duffy partnering Wilton John VDL into third place, and Thomas O’Brien and Amaretto sharing fourth with Vincent Byrne and Mr Rockefeller. The class was won by Belgium’s Karline De Brabander and Bamako de Muze.

SECONDS FOR LYNCH AND ALLEN AT FIVE STAR AACHEN

IRELAND’S Denis Lynch took second place in the Winning Round competition at the big five-star show in Aachen, Germany on Saturday, pushing Thomas Straumann’s bay stallion All Star 5 across the line in a second round time of 46.75 seconds.

However, the Tipperary rider was just over a second off the pace of German winner David Will and the mare Mic Mac du Tillard, and had to settle for the runner-up prize of 10,000 euro, while Will took home 12,500 euro for his first place.

Earlier, 19 year-old Bertram Allen also took a second place in the Youngster Cup for seven and eight year-old horses, riding Ballywalter Farms’s stallion Cheese W Z. The Wexford teenager failed to catch Germany’s Christian Ahlmann and Casuality Z, who claimed the winner’s rosette with just a quarter of a second in hand.

However, Allen was once again in the ribbons in the later Jump and Drive competition, where he shared first place with Australia’s Boyd Exell for the 5,000 euro prize. Allen and Wild Thing L handled the riding stage, while the Australian took the driving section.