Double trouble for Twomey
The Corkman and Sue Davies stallion were among 45 starters bidding for the top prize Audi A5 car and gave no indication of what was to come when joining nine rivals in the jump-off.
Twomey, however, put the blame squarely on himself.
“It was my own mistake, I was a bit off the fence. He never did this in his life before, but the first refusal unsettled him and he did not really want to jump it again,” said the 33-year-old, who still pocketed €5,000 for his 10th place.
Denis Lynch (Abbervail van het Dingeshof) and Jessica Kürten (Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois) were also contenders, but their bids ended in round one with eight and nine faults, respectively.
On Friday, Twomey and the 10-year-old Flamenco were pipped by Belgium’s Rik Hemeryck in a jump-off class, finishing just a twentieth of a second off the pace to collect €8,000, with Lynch and Dingeshof coming home fourth.
In Stockholm, Sweden, Cian O’Connor rued a single error in the jump-off of yesterday’s grand prix with Splendor, which saw him place fifth.
In Dresden, Germany, Cameron Hanley won the grand prix qualifier with Castlemartin Stud’s 13-year-old Danish-bred gelding Complete.
Kilkenny pony rider Emma O’Dwyer was the runner-up in yesterday’s grand prix at Neeroeteren in Belgium, riding the Irish-bred Jacknell Street. Compatriot Katie Mai McCarthy slotted Moneymaker into fourth place.
Junior rider Emily Turkington and Allihies Diamond Boy won a 1.30m class.
