Lorcan

Kevin Babington rounded off a brilliant weekend for Irish show jumping when second in the $150,000 Ocala Grand Prix in Florida, last night.

The Tipperary rider — who posted a double clear with Shorapur in Ireland’s nations cup victory at the fixture on Friday — returned with the 10-year-old mare last night and was among seven of 35 starters to make the jump-off. While he posted one of only four double clears, his time of 36.45 seconds put him four-tenths of a second slower than American Laura Kraut on the veteran 17-year-old grey gelding Cedric, earning him $30,000.

Meanwhile, Ireland team manager Robert Splaine had high praise for nations cup debutant Lorcan Gallagher following Friday’s surprise win. Conor Swail, riding Grafton, rightly garnered most attention with an ice-cool clear that gave Ireland victory when a single error would have meant a jump-off, but it was his fellow Co Down rider Gallagher who showed maturity that belied his inexperience, it being his first team competition at any level.