Irish hat-trick in Barcelona

Irish show jumpers notched up a hat-trick in Barcelona at the weekend, while 10th place for Denis Lynch in the penultimate leg of the Global Champions Tour in Vienna has left the Tipperary rider fourth on the leaderboard.

German-based Lynch rued four faults in each of the first two rounds of the €300,000 class with the stallion All Star 5, but had some compensation when second in the Speed Derby with Night Train.

Mark McAuley’s challenge in Saturday’s GCT showcase ended in round one with eight faults on Par Trois, while Cork’s Billy Twomey retired in round one after Wings Sublieme lowered the middle section of the treble and got caught up in the pole as it fell.

France’s Pénélope Leprevost (Mylord Carthago) capitalised on a lucky break at a fence early in a three-horse, third-round jump-off to lift the €100,000 top prize.

At the five-star show in Barcelona, Spain, Tipp’s Shane Breen scored a brace, opening his account with Balloon in a two-phase, followed by victory in a speed class on Ominerale Courcelle. Down’s Conor Swail provided a third win for Ireland with the mare Martha Louise.

At Cavan Equestrian Centre Indoor Championships, Cian O’Connor steered Khaled Al Eid’s Vanhoeve to victory in the opening leg of the GAIN/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix League. Last to go in a six-horse jump-off, he beat Waterford’s Tholm Keane and Warrenstown You 2. Jordan Coyle and Smokey Malone placed third.