Ireland's Lynch second in Spangenberg qualifier

Ireland's Denis Lynch was runner-up in a Medium Tour qualifier at Spangenberg, Germany today with the 11-year-old First Love.

Lynch also took third place in the earlier Young Horse Tour qualifier.

Tipperary-born Lynch, who is to be Ireland's sole show jumping representative at the Olympics in Hong Kong next month, was less than half a second off the pace of German winner Gilbert Brockmann in the two-phase qualifier for the Medium Tour, and in the Young Horse class, steered the seven year-old 'Double O Seven' into third place.

The Young Horse qualifier was won by Switzerland's Paul Estermann.

Spangenberg's three-star Grand Prix will be held on Sunday afternoon.