TIPPERARY'S Denis Lynch was best of the Irish in this afternoon's (Sunday) Grand Prix at Amsterdam in the Netherlands, posting a fourth place with Thomas Straumann's 11 year-old bay gelding 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof'.

A difficult course allowed just eight combinations from 45 starters through to the jump-off, and the 34 year-old Irish rider recorded the first double clear of the class, putting him temporarily in the lead, but his time was bettered by local riders March Houtzager and Eric van der Vleuten.

Britain's Michael Whitaker finally trumped all three with a half second lead on the Belgian-bred gelding 'GIG Amai', relegating Van der Vleuten to the runner-up spot and netting the 22,500 euro first prize.

Ireland's other Grand Prix competitor Billy Twomey picked up 12 faults in the first round with Sue Davies's stallion 'Je t'Aime Flamenco', and therefore did not qualify for the jump-off.
 

Denis Lynch