Five-star French win for Lynch

DENIS Lynch scored a five-star win at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Paris, France, last Sunday. Riding Sebastien Schatzmann’s 11-year-old stallion Cornets Iberio, the combination was the fastest of just three clears in the competitive class in a time of 61.32 seconds, ahead of Germany’s Daniel Deusser with Loui LN (0/ 65.76) and USA’s Laura Kraut in third with Confu (0/ 66.27).

Ireland miss out on EEF Final

IN the low scoring Longines EEF Nations Cup Semi-Final in Deauville, France, Ireland finished in sixth place on a score of eight faults after a fantastic second round.

They faced an uphill battle after the opening round when Jason Foley was the only Irish rider to jump clear riding Oscar v/h Hulstenhof, owned by Bruntwood Stables Bvba and Karel Cox Horses BV. Matt Garrigan (Quantum Robin V), Jenny Rankin (Imar) and Conor Drain (Imagine) were all unlucky to each have one fence down, leaving Ireland on a team score of eight at the half way stage when Spain, Sweden, France and Portugal were all out in front on zero penalties.

However, a superb second round, with clears from Garrigan, Rankin and Drain, Ireland added nothing to their score, however with only five qualifying spaces for up for grabs, Ireland narrowly missed out on progressing to the Longines EEF Final finishing in sixth place.

Howley third in Deaville

ENNISCRONE, Co Sligo native Diarmuid Howley claimed third place in the 1.55m CSIO3* Grand Prix in Deauville riding Uriga VA, owned by Manfred Von Allwörden. One of 15 to make it through to the jump-off, Howley produced one of seven clears in 45.69 seconds to earn €7,890. Victory went to France’s Cedric Hurel with Fantasio Floreval Z (0/0 42.24) ahead of Portugal’s Duarte Seabra in second with Dourados 2.