A LATE rally by two of the Irish contingent at Valencia's five-star Global Champions Tour show in Spain this evening (Sunday) saw Jessica Kurten claim the winner's laurels in the final competition of the weekend, while fellow countryman Denis Lynch finished close behind in runner-up position.

The only Irish winner at the show, Kurten rode Lady Georgina Forbes's mare 'Castle Forbes Cosma' to the 7,500 euro first prize in a 15 horse jump-off, shading Tipperary's Denis Lynch on the bay gelding 'Lacroix 9' by just a third of a second. Lynch collected 5,000 euro for his second place. American Olympian Lauren Hough placed third in the class with 'Casadora'.

Earlier, Lynch had also taken an eighth place in the speed class with 'Nabab's Son', but neither Lynch nor Kurten nor Ireland's other competitor at Valencia, Cian O'Connor, managed to make the cut for the final round of Saturday's 285,000 euro Grand Prix, which was eventually won by France's Timothée Anciaume and the stallion 'Lamm de Fetan'.

O'Connor, however, took fourth place in the show's major opening jump-off class on Friday with the mare 'K Club Lady'.

Jessica Kurten