Thomas Ryan gives Ireland second win in Basel

Thurles show jumper Thomas Ryan gave Ireland its second win at the five-star show in Basel, Switzerland, at the weekend after Cork’s Billy Twomey provided the opener.

Ryan, who has based himself in Switzerland for the past nine years, saddled up Simone Aschwanden’s grey stallion Caribo and was third last to go of 47 starters.

In a performance that had spectators on their feet, he shaved over a quarter of a second off the target set by Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and the 11-year-old mare Malou.

Twomey finished sixth in the contest on Ardcolum Duke, the Irish-bred grey stallion that carried him to victory on Friday.

Ryan was among a five-strong Irish contingent that failed to progress beyond the first round in yesterday’s grand prix.

He notched up eight faults with Quite Zero, a score matched by Denis Lynch and All Star 5.

Jessica Kürten (Arezzo VDL) and world No.15 Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V) proved the best of the quintet with unlucky four faults apiece.

Mayo’s Cameron Hanley ended on five faults with Living The Dream and also failed to advance.