Grand Prix win for Michael G Duffy

MAYO’s Michael G. Duffy won the two-star Grand Prix in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands, last Sunday. Riding the nine-year-old stallion Casino In, owned by Melisa Internationales Reitzentrum GmbH, he was best of just three double clears in 39.74 seconds to earn €10,000. He beat Sweden’s Malin Parmler and Immer Fortuna into second place, with Italy’s Vasco Campana and Vivant taking third.

Ireland seventh in

French Nations Cup

THE Irish eventing team of Jennifer Kuehnle (Sammy Davis Junior (ISH)), Darragh Byrne (Kilcannon Ramiro (ISH)), Patrick Whelan (Ikoon Lan) and Sian Coleman (Hush A Bye Baby) finished seventh of the 10 team competing in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Haras de Jardy, France. They finished on a team total of 204.4, while victory went to the home nation on a final score of 101.5. Belgium slotted into second (142.8), ahead of Britain in third (149.9). Frenchman Maxime Livio won the individual class on 31.3, ahead of teammate Camille LeJeune. Best of the Irish in 26th place was Byrne on 55.4.

Swiss win in Falsterbo

THE Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup 2023 season is proving a happy hunting ground for Team Switzerland who posted their second win of the Europe Division 1 series at Falsterbo in Sweden last Friday. Martin Fuchs was the hero once again when, last to go in the second round, only a clear from his horse Conner Jei would prevent a jump-off against Great Britain and USA. And again the man who claimed the individual European title in 2019 and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup title in 2022 held his nerve to do it. The British team finished second on eight faults, ahead of the USA, also on eight in a slower time. Switzerland head the standings with three of their four legs completed on a score of 270. Ireland have only completed two rounds so far and are currently in seventh place with two rounds in hand.

Australia and Japan qualify for Paris

IN a tense four-way contest, Australia and Japan both earned a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games when filling the top two places in Tuesday’s Group G Olympic Jumping qualifier at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands where New Zealand and China missed out when finishing third and fourth. In a high scoring contest, the Australian team of Hilary Scott, Olympic event rider Chris Burton, Laura Balcomb - who produced one of only two clears in the competition - and Edwina Tops Alexander won on a final score of 23 faults, ahead of Japan on 32. The two team now join the list of qualified nations from last summer’s FEI World Championship, the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final and the Olympic qualifier in Doha, Qatar, in February 2023.