‘Reborn’ Kürten sweeps all before her
On board the brilliant mare Castle Forbes Libertina, the world number seven rider produced the only double clear to pocket €42,000.
The victory brought to an end what was a superb week for Kürten, who also picked up the Longines Leading Irish Rider award and on Friday declared herself “reborn” in show jumping following an exciting nations cup competition that saw Ireland place second.
It was the second year in a row that an Irish rider claimed the top prize, following the success of Capt Gerry Flynn and Mo Chroí.
German-based Kürten was one of nine to contest the jump-off, with only her compatriot Niall Talbot on Tequi D’I CH matching her zero score.
Threatening, however, were Belgium’s Patrick Spits riding Withney Van De Dwerse Hagen, and Germany’s Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst on Lord Luis, both of whom left all the fences standing, but at a cost of a single time fault.
While they both went on to produce fault-free rounds in the jump-off, it was only good enough to place them second and third respectively, as Kürten replicated her first round clear to be the only rider on a clean sheet for the two rounds.
Talbot four-faulted in round two place fourth.
Spits’s performance helped him pick up the Longines Leading International Rider Award.
Earlier, Dutchman Gert-Jan Bruggink (Acodetto) took the main spoils in the Walls Construction Speed Championship, with Conor Swail and HSS Cheerio best of the Irish in sixth place.
If you were looking for heart-stopping moments, it came courtesy of Denis Lynch in Saturday’s Land Rover Puissance.
Ireland’s Olympic medal prospect fell heavily from Upsilon D’Ocquier to gasps from the audience as he slid across the rain-soaked arena.
After receiving medical attention, the German-based Tipperary rider was left with his wedding finger and small finger strapped, but sought to play down the severity of the injury, promising to “do his best” in Hong Kong.
Lynch was anxious to ride in yesterday’s grand prix, but succumbed to the persuasion of Horse Sport Ireland and departed yesterday morning with HSI chief executive Damian McDonald and Ireland show jumping team manager Robert Splaine for the Far East, where he teams up with Lantinus for tonight’s first warm-up class.
Saturday’s €36,000 puissance took place in torrential rain, but that was not going to put a dampener on Neal Fearon’s winning celebration. This came after five rounds saw the field of 11 reduced to a head-to-head between the young Cavan rider riding Candileto 4 and Patrik Spits on Sherlock K. The 2m 23cms proved too big for the Belgian to scale, but not for Fearon, who powered over with ease, a performance that brought the crowd to their feet in appreciation.
In the preceding Dublin Stakes, Peter Charles proved too fast with Murka’s Pom D’Ami for his 19 rivals in the jump-off. Liverpool-born Charles, a long-time member of Ireland’s show jumping team, returned to the British set-up last year and on Friday played an important part in denying Ireland victory in the nations cup.
His stylish round, timed at 47.37 seconds, on Murka’s Pom D’Ami, denied Ireland victory, with Captain David O’Brien crossing the line in 47.76.
Denis Lynch used the class as a puissance warm-up, riding Upsilon D’Ocquier to fourth behind Germany’s Marcus Ehning on Vulkano.
The opening class, an accumulator, saw Cian O’Connor the best of the Irish, finishing fourth with Baloufina, one better than Jessica Kurten on Castle Forbes Cosma. Britain again took the spoils, courtesy of Robert Smith and Mr Springfield.
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