HORSE SPORT IRELAND: TWO TOP TENS FOR IRISH RIDERS IN EUROPE

Source: News Release/Colin McClelland

TWO TOP TENS FOR IRISH RIDERS IN EUROPE

IRISH riders took two top ten places at European shows today (Saturday), with Denis Lynch finishing eighth in the Grand Prix at La Coruna in Spain, and Cian O'Connor claiming an identical position in the big jump-off class at London's Olympia later in the evening.

Lynch, riding Thomas Straumann's gelding Lantinus, picked up a total of 12 faults and 4,200 euro in the Grand Prix Telefonica, losing out to American winner Richard Spooner, whose double clear round with the stallion Cristallo netted him 46,500 euro.

In England, meanwhile, Cian O'Connor had one clear round in the feature class at Olympia with his new gelding Blue Loyd, but a single fence down in the jump-off left him in eighth overall, with the trophy going to France's Simon Delestre and the eight year-old mare Whisper.

O'Connor also had a seventh place in Friday's speed class with Uniek, while Co. Down's Dermott Lennon produced Ireland's only win so far at Olympia this week, riding the Irish-bred Loughview Lou Lou to victory in Thursday's jump-off.

The World Cup Grand Prix takes place in London on Sunday afternoon, with the Olympia Grand Prix scheduled for Monday night.

BREEDING:
•Loughview Lou-Lou (ISH) – 2002 bay mare by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Loughview Diamond Lucy (ISH), by Jack Of Diamonds (ID C1). Owner/Bred by Judith Sossick, 17 Old Staffordstown Road, Randalstown, Co. Antrim. Rider: Dermott Lennon (IRL)

Check the HSI website www.horsesportireland.ie for further information.