THE World Cup show at Lyon in France saw plenty of equestrian action over the weekend, hosting dressage and driving, alongside show jumping classes for both horses and ponies.
The FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy 1.25m speed class on Friday saw Sligo’s Senan Reape take eighth place with the 14-year-old gelding Fernando, when they jumped clear in a time of 59.76 seconds. There were 30 starters in the one-round class, with 18 of them jumping clear rounds. The class was won by Denmark’s Palma Sophie Gry Jansson-Christensen on Parc Icon (54.26).
Saturday’s 1.35m pony Grand Prix saw Reape claim fourth place. Nine of the 30 starters jumped clear first time out, but only three managed to repeat that in the second round. Reape rode a very fast jump-off round in 35 seconds, which would have won the class, but for an unfortunate pole on the ground, which made them the fastest of the four-faulters. The win went to Lieselot Kooremans (NED) on Elando van de Roshoeve (35.63).
The five-star 1.50m class on Saturday saw Mark McAuley on the nine-year-old Fury Nocturne take fourth place, with a clear round in 66.97 seconds. McAuley was among just six out of a start list of 38 to jump clear. The class was won by France’s Harold Boisset on T’Obetty du Domaine, whose super-fast time of 61.77 was not going to be caught. The closest challenger was Norway’s Pal Flam on Mega Special DC, who clocked 65.26.
McAuley missed out on a podium position by 0.11 seconds, but took home €5,680 in prize money for his efforts.