TIPPERARY'S Denis Lynch was the only rider of the Irish trio competing in this afternoon's (Sunday) World Cup class at Lyon in France to make it through to the jump-off, but a single fence down left him in sixth place overall, with Sweden's Rolf-Göran Bengtsson claiming the 60,000 euro winner's prize on the bay stallion Casall La Silla.

Lynch, riding Thomas Straumann's talented gelding Lantinus, was one of nine from a starting field of 40 to record a zero score first time out, but the final round saw five combinations leave all the fences standing, with the Irish rider finishing as the fastest of the four-faulters, though adding 10,000 euro to his weekend's takings at the five-star show, which totalled almost 50,000 euro.

Cork's Billy Twomey, who finished third in Saturday night's Equita Masters on Sue Davies's Tinka's Serenade, was unable to repeat the performance today, with the mare accumulating eight faults on her first time out.

Tipperary's Shane Breen retired from the World Cup class this afternoon when his mare Luikka had four fences down early in the first round.

In the USA, meanwhile, Ireland's Richie Moloney took his third World Cup placing with the Irish-bred gelding Slieveanorra when finishing fifth in the 100,000 dollar President's Cup at the three-star show in Wellington. The class was won by Britain's Nick Skelton and Carlo.

In Moorsele in Belgium Ireland's Max O'Reilly-Hyand rounded off a successful week with a win in Sunday's Pony Grand Prix with Rock Dee Jay. In the Junior classes, Bertram Allen also scored several top ten places.

BREEDING
Slieveanorra (ISH) – 2002 chestnut gelding by Voltaire (HANN) out of Creevagh Quaich (ISH), by Flagmount Diamond (ID C1). Bred by Ronnie Hollinger, Creevagh House, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan. Owner: Equinimity LLC & Diana Mercer. Rider: Richard Moloney (IRL)
 

Denis Lynch