EOIN McMahon finished runner-up in the five-star 1.60m Grand Prix in La Coruña, Spain, last Saturday.

In a difficult class where just six of the 42 combinations that started jumped clear in the first round, the Co Clare rider guided Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s 11-year-old Casall mare Chakra 9 to second place behind French winner Simon Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper.

Delestre was the only clear round against the clock in 41.28 seconds to take the top prize. McMahon beat that time by almost six seconds (35.48) but a fence down meant he had to settle for second place and €46,000 in prize money.

The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager was third with Sterrehof’s Dante N.O.P (0/4 35.70). Tipperary’s Denis Lynch also made it through to the jump-off and finished sixth when opting to retire with GC Chopin’s Bushi.

Pender fourth in World Cup

On his World Cup debut, 23-year-old German Philipp Schulze Topphoff breezed to victory with a stunning performance from his 11-year-old mare Concordess NRW in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup at the venue last Sunday, when Ireland’s Mikey Pender finished just off the podium in fourth place.

This fifth leg of the 2021/2022 Western European League was no walk in the park, and only seven of the 39 horse-and-rider combinations cleared Santiago Varela’s big track in the first round.

Against the clock, only three could manage another fault-free round and Schulze Topphoff was best of those in 37.69 seconds.

Runner-up spot went to the French partnership of Gregory Cottard and Bibici (0/0 37.78), while Sweden’s Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli lined up in third as the final double clear with Kalinka van de Nachtegaele (0/0 38.39).

Pender is always fast, no matter who the opposition is, and aboard the Ita Brennan-bred 10-year-old gelding HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x O.B.O.S. Quality), he posted the fastest time (36.08), but knocked the third last so had to settle for fourth and €30,000.

“This is definitely the biggest win I’ve ever had and I don’t know what to say except I’m really, really happy!” said the young German winner.

Ireland’s Denis Lynch continues to lead the Western European League table with Brazil’s Pereira de Menezes in second after today’s sixth-place finish while first-round winner, The Netherlands’ Kevin Jochems, lies third going into the London leg which will take place next Sunday, December 19th.