IRELAND'S Jessica Kurten finished second in the Leipzig Championship competition at the German World Cup show this afternoon (Saturday).

One of just seven combinations to go clear from a starting field of 46, the 40 year-old Irish rider and Lady Georgina Forbes's mare 'Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois' trailed World No. 1 Albert Zoer from the Netherlands by just eight-tenths of a second in the final round.

Germany's last-to-go Olympic Gold medallist Marcus Ehning threatened to take the runner-up place from Kurten with a faster time, but clipped a single pole to finish in fifth overall.

Kurten took 4,800 euro in prize money for her place.

Following yesterday's preliminary competition at Leipzig, three Irish riders have qualified for Sunday afternoon's Rolex World Cup Qualifier at the five-star show.

Antrim-born Kurten will battle it out with will Tipperary's Denis Lynch and Meath-based Cian O'Connor for the 120,000 euro on offer in the show's main feature class, which will also yield valuable World Cup points to add to the riders' overall rankings.