Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

LYNCH JUMPS TO SECOND IN WORLD CUP RANKINGS AFTER MECHELEN RESULT

DENIS Lynch moved up to second position in the Rolex FEI World Cup rankings this evening (Friday) after a fifth place finish in the World Cup competition at Mechelen, Belgium with Thomas Straumann's 11 year-old bay gelding Abbervail van Het Dingeshof.

Tipperary-born Lynch, who previously held sixth place in the rankings, was one of just eight riders to qualify for the jump off today, but his second clear round was not fast enough to catch local hero Gregory Wathelet and Copin van de Broy, who set an early lead that ultimately proved unbeatable.

Wathelet won a Land Rover, a Rolex watch and 13,000 euro, while Lynch settled for the 10,000 euro that went with his place in the eighth leg of the series.

Ireland's other two contenders today - Jessica Kurten with Vincente and Trevor Coyle with Jubilee d'Ouilly - both failed to make the cut for the final round, Kurten faulting once and Coyle dislodging two poles.

The current World Cup series has 13 legs, with the final taking place in the Netherlands in April. Ireland's next highest-placed rider in the rankings is Co. Down's Dermott Lennon, who finished in third place at Olympia, London earlier this month and currently holds joint 11th position.

Barnmice News is brought to you by EnglishHabit.com, a great place to shop
for all your English riding needs.