LYNCH PLACES SECOND IN DOHA FIVE STAR JUMP OFF

IRELAND’S Denis Lynch showed a turn of speed in tonight’s (Friday) feature jump-off class in Doha, Qatar, but failed by just over half a second to claim the 50,000 euro first place prize pot.

The Tipperary rider did, however, pick up 30,000 euro for his runner-up spot aboard Thomas Straumann’s 11 year-old bay All Star 5, and also saw fellow-countryman Mark McAuley in the prize money with a seventh place on Isco de Amoranda.

The competition was won by Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Pironella, who was one of 16 to make it through to the timed round.

Lynch claimed a fifth place with the same horse in Thursday night’s jump-off, which was won by Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet and Conrad de Hus.

Both riders are joined by Mayo’s Cameron Hanley at the five-star venue, where the final of the Longines Global Champions Tour will take place on Saturday evening.

In Toronto, Canada, meanwhile, Co. Down’s Conor Swail is once again in the running for Toronto’s Leading Rider award as he competes at Canada’s four-star Royal Winter Fair.

Swail, who celebrates his 43rd birthday later this month, won the award last year despite suffering a devastating Achilles tendon injury late in the show that subsequently saw him out of competition for a sizeable part of 2014.

Back to full fitness, the Irish rider won Wednesday’s International Power and Speed with Susan Grange’s Game Ready, and preceded this with a third place on Ariana in the Welcome class. The Ulsterman also placed second on Thursday night with Arista in the Top Score class and took third place in the Brickenden Trophy with Game Ready.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny has also enjoyed three top five finishes at Toronto this week.

Denis Lynch and All Star 5. Picture: Xavier Boudon/Pixizone.com