Breen and Simpson complete Irish one-two at five-star fixture in Dubai

Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Derry-born David Simpson have filled the top two places in today’s (Saturday) 1m45 Accumulator competition at the five-star Dubai Show Jumping championships, which are being held at Emirates Equestrian Club in the United Arab Emirates.

The Irish pair both picked up the maximum 65 points, with Breen guiding the Team Z7-owned Can Ya Makan to the fastest clear in 49.22 seconds to take home the top prize of just over €7,000. Simpson meanwhile stopped the clock in 50.96 with the 11-year-old stallion Unex Cognac IV to take runner-up spot and almost €6,000. Ramzy Al Duhami from Saudi Arabia took third place of the 34 starters with High Quality J in a time of 52.73.

Shane Breen and David Simpson will both be among 41 starters in today’s Longines FEI World Cup qualifier in Dubai which is part of the Arab League and carries a prize fund of almost €150,000.