Irish pair prove hot stuff

IRELAND’S Billy Twomey and Cian O’Connor put their rivals in the shade at a sunbaked Dublin Horse Show as they claimed victory in the two main classes.

Before near-capacity crowds, the team-mates in today's nations cup led a procession of Irish riders in the Power and Speed and the Speed Derby competitions.

In the former, Corkman Billy Twomey, riding Anastasia, had a full second to spare over Harry Marshall on the Cavalier gelding Splendido. The Armagh man had set the early pace in a competition that drew riders from 10 countries.