NEWS IN BRIEF: 11 Irish riders in world top 100

Eleven Irish riders in top 100

Ireland has 11 riders in the Longines top 100 in the world – a figure only surpassed by the US with 12. Bertram Allen remains Ireland’s top-ranked show jumper at No 23, ahead of Denis Lynch (24), Cian O’Connor (25) and Shane Sweetnam (31).

One of the biggest movers this month was Co Derry’s Daniel Coyle, who is up to 34, while Shane Breen comes in at No 44. The other Irish riders in the top 100 are Darragh Kenny (51), Conor Swail (66), Richie Moloney (80), Mark McAuley (81) and Cameron Hanley (93). America’s Kent Farrington remains the world No 1, with Dutch rider Harrie Smolders second and Sweden’s Peder Fredricson third.

IrISH PONIES win in belgium

The Irish pony show jumping team recorded a superb win at last Saturday’s FEI Youth Nations Cup at Opglabbeek in Belgium. Ireland held the lead at the halfway stage with four faults and went clear in the second round to take victory.

Francis Derwin riding Rincoola Babog (ISH) finished with one fence down in each round. Max Wachman with Cuffesgrange Cavalidam (ISH) didn’t put a foot wrong over two rounds to finish on a zero score. His superb effort was matched by his brother Tom with Quaprice d’Astree, who also jumped double-clear. Seamus Hughes-Kennedy and the Barbara O’Reilly-Hyland-owned Rock Dee Jay had a foot in the water in the first round and produced a vital clear when last to go in the deciding round to leave Ireland one fence ahead of their hosts Belgium, on eight faults. The Netherlands took third place ahead of Germany in fourth and Sweden in fifth.

Irish Youth riders completed a remarkable weekend in Belgium by winning both the Junior and Pony Grands Prix. Harry Allen stormed to victory in the Junior (U18) Grand Prix riding Dis Moi Tout de Clairbois, going clear in 41.03 to finish over two seconds ahead of Belgian runner-up Max Sebrechts with Cacacha van het Schaeck.

The Pony Grand Prix saw Irish riders fill the top two places. Seamus Hughes-Kennedy took the winner’s trophy with Rock Dee Jay. Max Wachman and Aughnashammer were second and Francis Derwin with Rincoola Babog finished ninth.

Swail second in Arezzo

Conor Swail took the runner-up spot in Sunday’s four-star Grand Prix at Arezzo in Italy to take home just over €11,000. Thirteen combinations made it through to the jump-off including Mayo’s Cameron Hanley, who briefly held the lead with Quirex before eventually finishing fifth. Swail took over the top spot with a clear in 40.71 with the nine-year-old Domino van de Valhoeve but was overtaken by home favourite Bruno Chimirri and Tower Mouche.