DENIS Lynch came a small step closer to qualifying for the Show Jumping World Cup Final when finishing sixth in the Swedish World Cup Qualifier in Gothenburg today (Sunday), but with just one leg left of the series, he would have to pull out all the stops to make the cut for the top 18 who compete for the trophy at Leipzig in Germany this May.

Tipperary native Lynch was one of 12 to make it to the jump-off today from a starting field of 39, but Thomas Straumann's bay gelding 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof' clipped the front pole of a rustic oxer fence during the final round, collecting four faults and robbing his rider of a chance at the 43,000 euro first prize and maximum ranking points.

The competition was won by new Swedish sensation, 24 year-old Angelica Augustsson, who was making her World Cup Qualifier debut, but outpaced some of the world's best riders to take the trophy on a Cruising offspring, the Selle Francais mare 'Midtown du Tillard'.

Cork's Billy Twomey, who failed to make the jump-off this afternoon after faulting twice with 'Tinka's Serenade', is currently Ireland's favourite to take World Cup glory in May, sitting at number six in the rankings after Gothenburg, and therefore qualified for the final. Jessica Kurten is at number 23, but will have one last chance to improve her ranking when the last qualifying competition takes place in the Netherlands at the end of March.

Denis Lynch