IRELAND’S Mark Kyle won the Lincoln JumpCross Eventer's Challenge at Grange Farm, Wittering, England this week.

Riding his Irish-bred World Equestrian Games horse Step In Time II, Kyle headed the class for the second year running, taking home the £3,000 first prize.

This was the third year this challenge has taken place and it offers the biggest prize in JumpCross, with a total prize-fund of £8,500.

In JumpCross, horse and rider do a timed round across the country, tackling obstacles such as water as in traditional cross-country riding, but all the fences can be knocked down. Riders receive a 20 second penalty for each fence down and 50sec for a refusal.

At the end of the course is a joker fence, about 6in higher than the rest, and riders can choose whether to take this on or not. Those who clear it have 40sec taken off their time, but anyone knocking it down has 40sec added.

This was a two-round competition, with scores from both rounds contributing to the riders' final placing.

Kyle said: "It was a great competition and a wonderful day. Having won last year it was brilliant that we were able to repeat our success and take home the excellent prize-money.
"I really enjoyed the event, the course was well designed and Step In Time is an excellent jumper so this type of competition really suits him."

Mark Kyle with Jim Bowen (left), managing director of sponsor Battles, who own the Lincoln range.