Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

Show Jumping - Ireland has Eight Riders in World Top 100

IN the official Longines World Show Jumping Rankings published today (Tuesday), covering competitions during the month of January, Ireland has eight riders in the top 100, with Co. Down’s Conor Swail highest at No.26.

Tipperary's Denis Lynch in 29th place, with fellow Tipp rider Shane Breen improving to 35th place.

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam has also gained two places in the table, coming in at No.53, while Mayo’s Cameron Hanley jumps six places to 62nd.

Wexford teenager Bertram Allen is down one place at 65th, while Olympic Bronze Medallist Cian O'Connor is at No.74.

Cork’s Billy Twomey made the biggest improvement during January, climbing from 107th place to re-enter the Top 100 at 93rd.

The Longines World Show Jumping rankings measure the performances of over 2,000 international riders each month, and the current leader is Britain's Scott Brash, with fellow-Briton Ben Maher in second place.

The rankings are published by the world governing body for the sport, the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

McGuigan Takes Fifth for Ireland in Florida Grand Prix

OMAGH'S Ronan McGuigan was the best of the Irish in tonight's (Sunday) Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, clinching fifth place with his ten year-old gelding Capall Zidane.

The New Jersey-based Ulsterman was one of two Irish riders through clear to the jump-off at the Wellington venue, but a single fence down denied him a chance at the winner's trophy, which went instead to the USA's Jack Hardin Towell and Man In Black, on a zero score.

Cork's Shane Sweetnam also qualified for the final round from a starting field of 45, but failed to repeat his opening clear score, picking up eight faults on the Irish Sport Horse Solerina for an eighth place.

Sweetnam and Solerina, however, were in the prize money with a second place at Wellington's opening competition on Friday, while later that day Offaly's Darragh Kenny produced an Irish victory in the feature class on board the French-bred Quiz.

Kenny said after his victory: " "He seems to be doing great. He was second last week and he won this week.

"He is going to have a week off next week. I really think a lot of the horse, so I am going to take my time with him."

At the Austrian Grand Prix in Villach Treffen, meanwhile, Denis Lynch produced Ireland's best result with an 11th place on All Star 5, faulting once in the jump-off, and with victory going to Italy's Filippo Moyersoen and Loro Piana Canada on a double clear round. Irish riders had a good weekend in the Austrian classes, with Mayo's Cameron Hanley and 18 year-old Wexford rider Bertram Allen both featuring in top ten placings.

Dubai's three-star Grand Prix saw Kilkenny's Marion Hughes take eighth place on the Irish Sport Horse Heritage HHS Fortuna, with first being taken by Qatar's Hamad Ali Al Attya and LB Casanova. 

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