THIRTY-four year-old Tipperary native Denis Lynch claimed the first Irish victory at Bordeaux's big World Cup show in France tonight (Friday), riding Flaminia Straumann's Westphalian gelding 'All Inclusive NRW'.

One of ten through to the jump-off from a starting field of 37, the Irish rider chalked up the first clear round, and despite attempts to better his time from France's Roger-Yves Bost and Belgium's Philippe le Jeune, Lynch held onto his lead to claim the 10,500 euro first prize.

Earlier in the day, Ireland's Jessica Kurten was just outside the prize money when taking a tenth place in the opening Two-Phase competition.

Bordeaux's five-star Rolex World Cup competition takes place on Saturday night, with Lynch bidding for prize money and points alongside fellow Irish riders Jessica Kurten and Billy Twomey.

Denis Lynch