Tuesday 19th of March 2024
Showjumping

Hat-trick of Irish wins at Toronto

Irish riders have made a flying start at the four-star Royal Horse Show at Toronto in Canada, racking-up three wins and a number of top five placings on the opening two days.

Darragh Kenny and Charly Brown © Ben Radvanyi

Darragh Kenny and Charly Brown © Ben Radvanyi

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny stormed to victory in Thursday night’s $35,000 Brickenden Trophy with the 11-year-old gelding Charly Brown. Kenny was last to go in the 12 horse jump-off and posted a winning time of 33.23 seconds, pushing American rider Jessica Springsteen into second place with Tiger Lily while World No.3 McLain Ward finished third with Malou.

“This is a very good horse,” said Kenny of Charly Brown, a horse acquired two months ago by Vlock Show Stables. “He is intended for Teddy Vlock to ride, but I borrowed him for these two weeks while my horses are in Europe. He is very experienced, has jumped a lot of big classes, and is really capable of doing anything.”

Daniel Coyle and Fortis Fortuna © Ben Radvanyi

Daniel Coyle and Fortis Fortuna © Ben Radvanyi

Also on Thursday in Toronto, Derry-born Daniel Coyle guided Fortis Fortuna to victory in the Alfred Rogers Uplands Under 25 National Championship. Twenty-one year-old Coyle and Fortis Fortuna, owned by Susan and Ariel Grange of Lothlorien Farm, had almost four seconds to spare over Canadian runner-up Quincy Hayes with Calgary 56. Cork’s Shane Sweetnam added a runner-up finish to the Irish haul when he grabbed second place in the $35,000 International Accumulator riding Cobalt. David Will took the winners trophy for Germany aboard Cento du Rouet.

Shane Sweetnam had earlier scored a win for Ireland in the opening competition on Wednesday in Toronto. Sweetnam and the 10-year-old gelding Cobolt claimed the $20,000 McKee International Jumper Challenge ahead of America’s Laura Kraut in second with Bialda and Canada’s Ian Millar in third with Baranus.

Along with this weekend’s four-star action in Toronto, Irish riders are competing in California USA, while in Europe, the Longines World Cup series moves to Verona in Italy. Munich in Germany plays host to four-star action over the coming days while Irish riders will also be in action in Belgium and Spain.

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CAVAN INTERNATIONAL

Closer to home, Cavan Equestrian Centre is hosting it’s annual indoor international show. Friday’s highlights include the Botanica Welcome Stakes and Gain Horse Feeds jump-off class. Saturday’s feature classes include the Jim Derwin Bloodstock Speed Class, Kingsland Puissance and Cavan County Council Jump-Off challenge. Cavan International comes to a close on Sunday with the Farnham Arms Power and Speed followed by the curtain-closing €8,000 Cavan International Grand Prix.

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