Podium finish for Swail in $500,000 Grand Prix

Conor Swail took third place in Saturday's $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Leanne O'Sullivan

4 April 2018

Podium finish for Swail in $500,000 Grand Prix

Conor Swail and Rubens LS La Silla. \ Sportfot

The champagne spray celebration for the top three riders following the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix. First place Margie Engle, second place Luis Francisco de Azevedo, and third place Conor Swail. \ Sportfot

Jordan Coyle and Eristov win the CSI2* $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup. \ Sportfot

Co Down’s Conor Swail and the 12-year-old stallion Rubens LS La Silla were the highest-placed Irish finishers in last Saturday’s $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix at Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, taking third place overall.Just six of the 40 starters managed to jump clear in the opening round, with Swail the sole Irish representative in the decider. Although lowering one fence in the jump-off, a time of 40.17 seconds saw Swail finish as the fastest four faulters to take third spot on the podium.

Just six of the 40 starters managed to jump clear in the opening round, with Swail the sole Irish representative in the decider. Although lowering one fence in the jump-off, a time of 40.17 seconds saw Swail finish as the fastest four faulters to take third spot on the podium.

Rubens LS La Silla has been in Swail’s program since his student Vanessa Mannix bought him as a seven-year-old. Swail competed him in the winters of 2016 and 2017, but the horse was sold to the Hymowitz family of Rose Hill Farm last June, and Swail only got the ride again three weeks ago.

“We did the five-star two weeks ago, and then this was my second big show with him,” he said. “I’m very, very pleased with how quickly he has returned to top form. I’m really chuffed with how quickly he’s getting back into my program. It’s such a fabulous result to be third. This is the biggest week of WEF, so I’m thrilled with that.”

Birthday celebrations

Victory on the night went to local rider Margie Engle of Wellington, Florida who was celebrating her 60th birthday. She partnered the 14-year-old stallion Royce to the fastest jump-off clear in 39.35 to finish comfortably ahead of Brazilian runner-up Luis Francisco de Azevedo with Comic who produced the only other clear round in 42.52.

Coyle claims cup

Derry’s Jordan Coyle ended his circuit at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida with victory in the CSI2* $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup. Coyle’s win came aboard Eristov, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Concorde) owned by Elan Farm.

Third to go in the second round, Coyle was one of 11 riders to advance to the jump-off from an original field of 63.

His time of 33.06 seconds held on for the win, dropping Matthew Metell (USA) to second in 33.46 seconds riding Donchalant.

Italian victory for Cameron Hanley

Mayo’s Cameron Hanley took the top prize in last Saturday’s 1.50m speed class at the three-star Italian show in Arezzo.

Hanley and the 10-year-old mare EIS Isaura (Tinka’s Boy x Darco), who is owned by Equi

Invest Showjumping, were comfortable winners when crossing the line in 67.99. Poland’s Wojciech Wojcianiec and Naccord Melloni came closest to catching them with a time of 69.41.