IRISH show jumping riders were in impressive form at the Basel five-star World Cup show in Switzerland last weekend, scoring a number of victories and podium finishes.

Sligo’s Richard Howley and the 15-year-old gelding Mansini Ltd (Caressini L x Marramas) stormed to victory in Saturday’s 40-strong 1.50m speed class. Howley crossed the line clear in 55.02 seconds to finish a second-and-a-half ahead of Swiss runner-up Barbara Schnieper with Judy KM (Joly St Hubert x Saphir von der Rossi). Janika Sprunger and Kinmar Scarlett (Akarad Hero Z x Lys de Darmen) completed the podium, followed by Martin Fuchs and Viper Z (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Grannus) in fourth. Dutch rider Lars Kersten and Boebka vh Marienshof Z (Balou du Rouet x Marien) completed the top fiv.e.

“Mansini has been with me for a year now,” Howley said. “He is a very competitive horse and had brought me lots of good results in the last year. Today’s class was very competitive, with a difficult course and a few very tight turns. Mansini was very responsive on the turns, which made my life easier in the ring, and he has quite a big stride so I was able to do a few leave-outs, which I think gave me the time to win the class.” Denis Lynch and Vistogrand (Fantaland x MrVisto) were 12th in this class.

Howley and Mansini Ltd had also finished as runners-up in Thursday’s 1.45m speed class at the same event behind French winner Roger Yves Bost and Ever de Turan.

Denis Lynch and Cordial were third in the Longines Grand Prix of Basel \ CHI Classics Basel / Katja Stuppia

Podium place

Then, on Friday evening, Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and the 15-year-old stallion Cordial were one of just four combinations to make it into the jump-off in the €200,000 Longines Grand Prix and would finish in joint-third place. Richard Howley and Consulent de Prelet Z finished sixth in this class with the fastest four fault score from the first round in a competition, which was won by Kevin Staut (FRA) and Visconti du Telman.

Forty-two combinations took part in the first round of the challenge, with fences set at the height of 1.60m on a course designed by Gérard Lachat (SUI). Going up against three other combinations in the tiebreaker, it was the Frenchman and the 15-year-old bay Selle Français mare (Toulon x Dollar du Murier) who prevailed, crossing the timers with the only clear in 35.59 seconds.

Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and QH Alfons Santo Antonio produced the fastest time among the finalists, 32.93 seconds, but this came at the expense of one pole down.

The two remaining pairs shared bronze, as Alain Jufer (SUI) on Dante MM, and Lynch both had four faults in a time of 37.13 seconds.

Lynch also claimed a runner-up finish in Saturday night’s 1.55m Golden Drum of Basel with the 10-year-old stallion Dark Chocolate (Casall x Acodetto). Lynch produced one of just three double clear rounds in a competition won by Yuri Mansur (BRA) with Vitiki. Lynch has an excellent record in the prestigious Golden Drum competition, having previously taken victory in 2020 riding Cristello, while he finished as runner-up in 2019 aboard Dito.