BILLY Twomey notched up Ireland’s first win at the prestigious five-star show in Basel, Switzerland, last week.
Riding Ardcolum Duke (ISH), he clocked the winning time of 49.77 seconds in the 1.45m against the clock class and collected €6,000 for the win.
Twomey had just over a second in hand over Belgian challenger Gregory Wathelet and Egano van het Slogenhof who finished in 50.63.
Also featuring in the class line-up was Mayo’s Cameron Hanley who slotted into fourth place with Newton du Haut Bois, clear in 51.74. This was the second good result for Hanley who finished in the top 10 with Newton du Haut Bois on the first day of the show, taking sixth place in the 1.45m class. The class was won by Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts, clear in 47.49. In fifth place were Henrik Von Eckermann and Crespo PKZ who also put in a faultless round in 52.38, ahead of Daniel Deusser and Air Pia VG Z, clear in 53.05.
The competition came down to the wire with 18 of the 49 riders delivering clear rounds. Wexford’s Bertram Allen (Belmonde), Tipperary’s Denis Lynch (Querida) also competed in the class, but with both incurring four faults, they finished out of the top 10.
RYAN SHINES
More ribbons were claimed by the Irish contingent when Tipperary’s Thomas Ryan took fourth place in the speed class with Aschwanden Simone’s Quite Zero, clear in 48.55 seconds. Taking the honours was Olivier Philippaerts (King de Papignies Z), clear in 47.49.
Ryan ended his show on a high note as he also won the 1.40m against the clock aboard Caribo, clear in 50.36 on the final day. Ryan was joined by Twomey who accounted for sixth with Ardcolum Duke, clear in 51.91.
Co Antrim’s Jessica Kürten slotted into fifth place in the 1.55m jump-off class with Arezzo VDL last Friday. The combination was only one of six double clears in 36.86 seconds. Leading the victory lap in the class was Daniel Deusser riding Espyrante who lodged the winning round, clear in 35.24.
In eighth place, carrying four faults were Denis Lynch and All Star 5, while Hanley and Living The Dream also finished in four faults in a time of 46.30 for 11th place. Hanley was back in the ribbons, when claiming sixth place in the 1.45 speed and Handiness class while Twomey was ninth with Diaghilev.
DINIZ WINS GP
Portugal’s Luciana Diniz rode to victory in the Longines Grand Prix at Basel.
Riding Fit For Fun, Diniz left Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli on Extra van Essene and Britain’s Scott Brash on Hello Sanctos behind her in second and third respectively. Diniz also won last Saturday’s feature 1.40m class on the 16-year-old Winningmood, clear in 32.27.
Best of the Irish in the Grand Prix was Kürten and Arezzo VDL who finished in 22nd place when incurring four faults in the first round (64.42). Bertram Allen and Molly Malone finished one place behind, also on four faults, in 64.50.
Ireland’s Cameron Hanley (Living The Dream), ended on five faults (64.67), Ryan (Quite Zero) incurred eight faults in 64.67 and Lynch (All Star 5) eight faults 65.48.
The leading rider of the show title went to Brazil and Enda Carroll’s Ashford Farm’s stable rider Marlon Zanotelli.