IRISH show jumping riders were in superb form across the globe this weekend, scoring no less than four major Grand Prix wins.
Offaly’s Darragh Kenny got the Irish winning streak underway when he guided Chic Chic to victory in Saturday’s two-star Grand Prix at Samorin in Slovakia. Later that evening, Kenny and his Tokyo Olympic Games mount VDL Cartello finished sixth in the five-star Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at the same venue.
On Saturday night in the USA, Derry’s Daniel Coyle and the Ariel Grange-owned Legacy took victory in the $137,000 three-star Grand Prix at Tryon in North Carolina. Galway’s Andrew Bourns also finished in the prizes, taking fourth place with Darquito.
Back in Europe, Wexford’s Bertram Allen scored a win in Sunday’s two-star Grand Prix at Sentower Park in Belgium. Riding Madorada DW, owned by Ger O’Neill and Matteo Pelmglio, Allen produced one of just two double clear rounds to take the winner's prize of €6,350.
Bertram’s younger brother Harry Allen featured strongly in the four-star Grand Prix at St Lo in France. Riding the 10-year-old gelding Guinness, Harry Allen finished just over a second behind French winner Julien Epaillard and Billabong du Roumois.
At Herning in Denmark, Limerick-born Shane Carey and Skorphults Baloutendro shared victory in the two-star Grand Prix. Carey finished on exactly the same time in the jump-off as Germany’s Philipp Schulze Topphoff with Carla 229.
Source: Horse Sport Ireland press release